Today, Gov. Pete Ricketts announced his veto of LB 238, a bill that would ensure that witnesses to state executions are able to observe the state carry out the death penalty and not have their observations viewed or obstructed by state officials.
He also announced his veto of LB 1004, a bill that would provide that more people in prison become eligible for parole within two years of their mandatory discharge date from prison, thereby require those transitioning to the community to be supervised by the state instead of just released from prison.
Both bills passed on Final Reading with support from senators from across the political spectrum on Thursday, Aug. 13. Because the Nebraska Legislature is no longer in session, lawmakers will not have an opportunity to attempt to override Gov. Ricketts’ veto.
The following quotes are provided for media use, both attributable to ACLU of Nebraska Executive Director Danielle Conrad.
Death Penalty Transparency
“Nebraska has a proud tradition of open government and our courts have repeatedly affirmed this notion; unfortunately, the Governor’s veto of LB 238 was contrary to that tradition. Rather than honor the saying outside our Capitol that ‘The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness of the Citizen,’ the Governor will allow state officials to operate in the shadows, carrying out the death penalty without ensuring that witnesses can observe this grave and irrevocable act. Bottom line, the people have a right to know how the state takes a person’s life.
Parole Reform
“Nebraska’s prison system is in a continual state of crisis. LB 1004 was one modest, yet smart, step in the right direction to fix this crisis. Unfortunately, the Governor’s veto of LB 1004 falls in line with his continued resistance to commonsense justice reform, ensuring the state’s problems with mass incarceration, prison overcrowding, and criminal justice will persist. Nebraskans deserve better.”
