The Nebraska Unicameral voted to repeal the death penalty, which also withstood a veto by Governor Pete Ricketts. That came at the end of hours of emotional debate both on the repeal and the veto.
District 40 Senator Tyson Larson of O’Neill did not vote on the repeal, and then later voted to sustain the Governors veto.

Larson says it was a difficult issue for him and the entire body.

Governor Pete Ricketts accused the Unicameral of being out of step with the voters by repealing the death penalty. Larson says while he supported the Governor on the repeal, he thinks legislators are listening to the people in their districts.

A petition drive is beginning that could put the death penalty question on the 2016 ballot.