Hope Rising In The West

The Most Welcome Headline Of 2009:

New Mexico abolishes the death penalty

The New Mexico Senate voted to abolish capital punishment, a measure already approved by the lower House that Governor Bill Richardson must sign before it goes into effect, the Senate said on its website.

The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 24-18 to strike the death penalty from its law books.

Democrat Richardson, who last month withdrew as President Barack Obama's pick to be commerce secretary, has not made clear whether he agrees with the repeal measure or plans to veto it, but lawmakers said they expect him to sign it into law