Delaware House votes on death penalty repeal bill

(AP) – The state House is set to vote on a bill to abolish Delaware’s death penalty.

The bill to be voted on Thursday narrowly cleared the Senate last year, but had been languishing in a House committee until the committee chairman agreed last week to release it.
    
Judiciary Committee members voted 6-to-5 last May not to send the bill to the full House after it narrowly cleared the Senate on an 11-to-9 vote.
    
Democratic Gov. Jack Markell has said he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
    
The bill would abolish capital punishment for first-degree murder, although it would not apply to inmates now on death row.