DES MOINES --- Democrats in the Iowa Senate tried to slam the door on the possibility of a death penalty debate Wednesday by scuttling a special committee assigned to take up the issue.
But Sen. Larry McKibben, R-Marshalltown, the Senate's top death penalty supporter, accused Democrats of throwing up a "smokescreen" that would anger Iowans who want an open debate on the controversial issue.
"They can blow all the smoke they want to blow, but Iowans understand this. Iowans get it," McKibben said. "I'm not worried. My e-mails and phone calls are overwhelmingly in support of having a debate on this."
The latest Capitol skirmish over capital punishment erupted one day after a Davenport jury found Roger Bentley guilty of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering 10-year-old Jetseta Gage of Cedar Rapids. The high-profile case sparked calls for reinstating Iowa's death penalty, including from Gage's family.
McKibben and 16 other GOP senators are sponsoring legislation that would apply the death penalty in cases where a child is kidnapped, raped and murdered. McKibben had hoped a Senate judiciary subcommittee would consider the bill on Tuesday.
But late Wednesday, top Democrats on the Judiciary Committee canceled the subcommittee meeting. The Senate is split 25-25 between Democrats and Republicans, so key lawmakers in both parties have the power to scrap legislation.
"We remain morally opposed to reinstating the death penalty in Iowa," said Sen. Keith Kreiman, D-Bloomfield, the Judiciary Committee Co-Chairman, and Sen. Robert Dvorsky, D-Coralville, in a joint statement.
"We also reiterate that there are not enough votes to pass such legislation in the Judiciary Committee or in the full Senate. Instead, we hope the Senate will focus its attention on issues that unite us," the statement said.
McKibben disputed their vote count and called for an up-or-down vote on the issue. If his bill ultimately dies without action, McKibben said he'll try to attach the death penalty to other legislation.
If he doesn't get a debate, he vowed to take his case to Iowans.
"I will go to every corner of this state and tell Iowans what's going on with Senate Democrats if I have to. If this subcommittee doesn't happen, I'll be on the road next week," McKibben said.
Contact Todd Dorman at (515) 243-0138 or at
todd.dorman@lee.net.
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