Senate panel to work on death penalty bills this week

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jan 24, 2005 by Chris Moon Capital-Journal

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Session back in routine

Session routine returns

Death penalty bills to be reviewed by a senate panel this week

After their quick start, the wheels of government will slow to their typical crawl this week as the Legislature settles into its normal routine --- committee hearings, committee debates and a little political posturing.

No major votes are expected this week in the Legislature, which surprised some with two quick high-profile actions in the first two weeks of the session.

On Day Four, the Senate passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage in Kansas. The chamber then advanced a bill that repeals an unpopular change in how sales taxes are calculated on used vehicle sales.

But this week, the action appears to center on the finer points of some of the session's top issues.

The House Federal and State Affairs Committee will spend the week holding hearings on the marriage amendment.

A Senate panel will discuss four death penalty bills.

And the House Select Committee on Education will begin putting together the pieces of a school finance plan.

House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, turned heads last week by referring the marriage amendment to committee. The measure --- which would put the gay marriage ban up for an April 5 vote if passed --- sailed through the Senate without going through the committee process.

Mays, a supporter of the measure, said it needed hearings. Opponents applauded the move.

Supporters wondered whether Mays was trying to force it to a vote in 2006, when conservatives will be looking for big gains in statewide elections.

"I'm always suspicious," said Terry Fox, pastor at Wichita's Immanuel Baptist Church and a chief supporter of the proposal.

Mays said the measure likely would emerge from committee by the end of the week. He expected a vote next Monday or Tuesday.

"It'll come out," he guaranteed reporters on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee will struggle over whether to fix a constitutional flaw in the state's death penalty. The Kansas Supreme Court has struck down the law, but the state is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Please see SESSION, Page 5A

Session: Vote on gay issue expected next week