Abolition of death penalty won't happen in 2019. House Democrats cite other priorities
Olympia -- A bill to eliminate the death penalty from Washington’s statutes won’t reach the governor’s desk to become law this year.
The Senate passed a death-penalty abolition bill on Feb. 15 by a 28-19 margin, but the House did not vote on it by Wednesday’s deadline for non-budget bills to pass from the opposite chamber.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who requested that legislators pass the bill, said Thursday the House had enough votes for approval.
“Simply put, the votes are there. We provided House leadership with a bipartisan list of 54 members committed to voting to abolish Washington’s death penalty. There’s no other way to put it — I’m extremely disappointed,” said Ferguson, a Democrat who is exploring a possible run for governor if Jay Inslee does not seek a third term.
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