Gov. George Ryan used his amendatory veto to strip...

Gov. George Ryan used his amendatory veto to strip anti-terrorism legislation passed last fall that would make terrorism a capital offense in Illinois. The anti-terrorism measure was pushed by Atty. Gen. Jim Ryan, who is a Republican candidate to succeed the governor. The attorney general wrote the bill to create a new state crime of terrorism carrying penalties ranging from 20 years in prison to death by lethal injection.
But Gov. Ryan said he has grave concerns about adding new crimes to the list of those that merit the death penalty--at least until the state wrestles with more fundamental problems plaguing its system of capital justice. Existing murder laws apply to terrorist acts and allow the death penalty, Ryan said. The governor's decision comes 3 months after lawmakers approved the attorney general's package.