Gov. Pete Ricketts discusses his veto of the bill to repeal the death penalty
Gov. Pete Ricketts has vetoed the death penalty repeal bill, setting up a showdown with the Unicameral.
Ricketts admits the vote on the repeal of the death penalty took him by surprise.
“I, along with most Nebraskans, the overwhelming number of Nebraskans I talk to, were surprised and disappointed by that vote,” Ricketts says. “Because, again, the people of Nebraska understand it’s important to have a death penalty for public safety and the legislature is out of touch with what the people of Nebraska want.”
Lawmakers voted 32-to-15 with two senators not voting to eliminate capital punishment.
Ricketts has to flip three votes to sustain his veto of LB 268.
The Unicameral is scheduled to take up the motion to override the governor’s veto this afternoon.
AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [:35]