DENVER – The State Senate has indefinitely postponed consideration of a death penalty repeal bill, apparently lacking enough votes to remove the little-used capital punishment from the books.
Democratic Sen. Julie Gonzales, a sponsor of the bill, requested Tuesday that further consideration of the bill be postponed until May 4, a day after the 2019 Legislative session ends according to the Colorado Sun.
Democrats have a 19-16 majority in the Senate. But at least one, Sen. Rhonda Fields, vowed to oppose the bill. At least four other party members have not publicly committed to vote for repeal.
In the past, lawmakers have tried to repeal Colorado’s death penalty, which was last used in 1997. They cite the cost of capital punishment cases and racial disparities in sentencing.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
