USA - Montana. The Republican-controlled Senate passed 27–23 a bill which would replace capital punishment

The Republican-controlled Senate passed 27–23 Senate Bill 236, which would replace capital punishment with life-in-prison sentences without the possibility of parole. The final binding vote is for tomorrow, a vote that would send the measure to the House for its consideration. Six Senate Republicans joined 21 Democrats in voting for the bill, while 21 Republicans and two Democrats voted "no."  The bill is sponsored by Sen. David Wanzenried, D-Missoula. A similar bill in the 2007 session was the first to make it out of the Senate in Montana's history. It died in House committee. (see also Feb. 10)