Supporters of new bill say ending death penalty makes financial sense

Supporters of a bill to end the death penalty in Washington state say the capital punishment law doesn’t make sense financially.

“King County has spent more than $12 million on two cases alone,” said District 36 Representative Reuven Carlyle.

Carlyle, who is sponsoring House Bill 1739 with other representatives from around Washington state, told a House committee Wednesday morning the death penalty is not a financially responsible policy.

More than a dozen people testified Wednesday in favor of the bill, which would eliminate the death penalty and replace it with life in prison, with no opportunity for parole.

The measure follows Gov. Jay Inslee’s decision last year to impose a moratorium on capital punishment. Inslee, who was criticized last year by several Republican lawmakers over his moratorium decision, has said he supports the bill.

The House committee is scheduled to vote on HB 1739 on Thursday.

Despite losing a loved one to murder, former state Senator Debby Regala supports the bill.

“People expect public policy to keep family safe,” Regala said. “However, the “death penalty is not a deterrent to murder.”

“What we would like is to have that family member back, but nothing can make that happen,” she added.

Not everyone who heard testimony agreed with the bill. State Representative Jay Rodne said he has heard similar arguments for about 12 years. The cost argument is disingenuous, he said.

“To argue the cost … it’s akin to someone who murders their parents and then asks for leniency because he’s an orphan,” he said.

Rodne suggested the state limit the appeals process for the death penalty.