USA - Nevada. Governor vetoes bill calling for study of death penalty costs

Governor vetoes bill calling for study of death penalty costs. Gov. Brian Sandoval has vetoed a bill that called for a study of the cost of the death penalty in Nevada. Assembly Bill 501 called for the legislative auditor to examine the costs of capital cases compared to non-death penalty cases. “This bill lacks the specificity necessary to persuade me that the outcome of the audit performed will be fair,” he said in his veto message. The bill was approved by the Assembly 28-14 and by the Senate 11-10. The vote was along party lines with Republicans opposing the study. The governor said, “The bill, for example, lists the costs to be assessed in determining the overall fiscal impact of the imposition of the death penalty, but it does not specify how it is these costs will be assessed.” Sandoval also said the audit doesn't reflect the choices by individuals on death row in pursuing appeals. “Thus, because the bill fails to assure me that the outcome of the audit will be reliable and fair, I veto it,” the governor said.