" Ms.Fleisher: Do you also agree that the victums of these murders should be offered Life Without Parole by the murderer. I wonder if they would accept their fate happily. Capital punishment deters crime if used the way it should be used. If the murder sees that committing murder will cost him his life in the short term and not 20-30 years later and maybe never if they die of natural causes.

What I have never seen when they speak of how it cost more to employ Capital Punishment is a break down of the cost of putting a 20-year old murderer in jail for life. They have 50 to 60 years to appeal their sentence while living off our tax money. And not living too badly either I suspect considering the crime they committed. All you anti-death penalty people keep pointing at the cost of appeals as the main cost and the reason to elliminate the penalty. Then let the murder finance their own appeals. That is what they do if they appeal their Life Without Parole sentence. "

" Wouldn't it make more sense to limit the number of appeals? Seems like everyone is saying that is the real expense and the death penalty doesn't deter crime anyway. Maybe if it were carried out before 35 years of appeals criminals might actually be concerned about their punishment, and the price would be reduced dramatically. Maybe not, it was just a thought. "

" Leland, when a merchant raises a price, the public has the right to not buy it. The open market governs. But when school officials are given high raises, the public is just taxed more. the public has no opportunity to say no. And, my guess would be that if a merchant raised prices 11.5 percent, he would be closing his doors.

Now, please watch all of the business that have or will close during these economic hard times. They have been able to pay the exsorbitant taxes leveed against them up until now, but can no longer afford them.
And no, I do not belong to LIBA. But I am grateful for them looking into this matter. "

" I am NOT affiliated with LIBA in anyway, but I have the CHOICE to patronize a business if I want. I do NOT have the choice to pay taxes. So I will complain along with LIBA if thing like this occur "

" Fixed the appeals process. It would solve more than just murder cases. "

" My salary is paid from government (taxpayer) funds. My salary increases are capped. Only in extraordinary circumstances would an increase like this be granted. In these financial times, my employer would find no circumstance that extraordinary. The LPS administrator salaries are probably inappropriate for the education, skill and knowledge in the first place, and the increases were completely out of line. The taxpayers are being held over a barrel when it comes to these administrative positions. Julia is mostly correct. The consumer would stop buying most products that increased its price (let alone its profit margin) by 11.5%. Except gas. We're over a barrel there, too, but at least I can walk. I have to pay my tax bill no matter how I disapprove of its use. "

" Ken - just do a little searching on Google. You'll find tons of documentation that execution costs more than life. And capital punishment has NEVER deterred crime! If it did, states like TX or FL (who do execute, and fairly soon) would have far lower per capita murder rates, when in fact they have some of the highest rates in the nation. There simply is no evidence to support the claim execution deters crime. Nor is prison "not living too badly!" It is a dangerous and violent place, where one is controlled 24hrs per day, spend most of your life in small, confined places with limited outside contact, and in most states even the medical care is substandard. And you're ignoring the point of more appeal opportunities for death row. Its irreversible! Get it wrong and carry out the sentence, and you can't later make it right. Life, and you can always release the innocent, even compensate them.
breches - and where would you limit it at? Two? And what happens if after the 2nd you discover evidence of innocence? Too bad? Texas does that, FYI. About 10yrs ago the TX Supreme Court literally ruled that the state's law requires an appeal must be filed within 60 days of sentencing else you can't appeal (even on death penalty cases at the state level). And even if actual evidence proving innocence is later found, too bad. You can't appeal! They literally ruled that someone who could prove innocence could no longer appeal and could only request the Governor issue them a pardon. Is that the kind of justice we want in Nebraska? I don't!
Julia - of course you can say no. Its called democracy, and you simply vote out those who raised the taxes! They're not aristocracy, inheriting positions allowing them to tax you! If they raise taxes, and people keep reelecting them, then presumably people don't object that much to the taxes. And since the business taxes are applied evenly to all businesses (or should be), the cost is simply passed on to the taxpayer keeping all prices effectively level. If business goes down in hard economic times, its not taxes that bring them down, its the economic conditions in general. "

" If money is the crux of why we should or should not have a death penalty, then lets apply that theory to the rest of our lives.

Instead of spending millions of dollars on presidential elections, why don't we just keep the same president till he/she dies or decides to step down. Or maybe we should just let the outgoing one appoint the incoming one therefore saving our government and the country tons of money.

And since prosecuting people on drug charges is both time consuming and costly, why don't we just slap them on the hands and let them ride off into the sunset to continue to make deals that harms/kills our society.

Or how about we not bother to investigate the white collar crime that has lead to the financial strangle-hold our economy is suffereing right now. There are enough good citizens out there to be nickeled and dimed via taxes that we can keep the country afloat and them basking in the life-style they have become accustomed to.

If all of these scenarios seem ridiculous, then the idea of eliminating the death penalty because of costs rates right up there too. "

" Mr. Stege seems to not understand the fundamental difference between LPS, a public entity, and the members of LIBA, private business owners. LPS is supported by our tax dollars taken from us without consent and by force if needed. Don’t believe this? Try not paying your property taxes for a while. Sooner or later the government will come around to sell your property for taxes and that man will be wearing a gun.

On the other hand no one, Mr. Stege included, is obligated to do business with any member of LIBA. If you don’t like the product or service offered at the price asked you are free to go elsewhere or to simply put your money back in your pocket. However, since they are private businesses with no mandate people accept, use or pay for their services they are bound by the laws of the market. Offer products and services at non-competitive prices and you won’t be around for long.

LPS offers no such choice. Not to the people who use their services or to the people who don’t. I for one am sick and tired of people expecting me to pay taxes so the government can provide to them the services they want. On the other hand I applaud LIBA for taking a stand against reckless spending and runaway compensation packages. And best of all, LIBA has never asked me for a dime. "

" Strange the left will fight tooth and nail for a convicted murder who's on death role (where were the rights of the victim?). But when it comes to killing the unborn they're all for it, because it's a woman's right to choose. Maybe we (a potential victim of this crime) all should sign a legal certificate saying IF we're killed by a murder and they are convicted do we want them to sit in jail all their life or do we want to impose a humane way of disposing the killer all about the freedom of choice, right? Hypocrisy is endless in social liberalism. "

" Don't bother arguing the death penalty here. Most of the people in this state have shown themselves more interested in vengeance than true justice. You're screaming at deaf ears here. "

" Theoretically it might deter crime if it "was used the way it should be used" but since it never is, what is "as it should be used"? The way you want it to be used? The way Iran uses it? How about Somalia? Since there is not real frame of reference, and since it actually WAS abolished for several years, what glorious bygone era are you using to base your "as it should be used" comparison? "

" So, of course Julia will be next in line to work in the LPS administration, since obviously 'anyone' can do it. That Masters or Doctorate degree is just eye candy on their wall-nope. No advanced skills needed there. Pardon me while I go apply to be a brain surgeon because I think they are over paid, and, well, I can win at Operation and I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. "

" With what Lincoln Electric is charging for electricity, You might be right Norma! "

" It's obvious some don't know about LIBA other than half truths. The above letter today from Leland points this out perfectly today. As a business owner, it's none of the public's business whether I raise prices on my goods or services..period! The public might not like a price increase and go elsewhere, but that's their business. When a public taxing authority takes yours and mine tax dollars, they are responsible to the public for all answers pertaining to that spending. There is a HUGE difference there Leland. This IS NOT the pot calling the kettle black. Nice try at that comparison tho.
LIBA does and outstanding job of looking out for ALL taxpayers when it comes to government spending, and use of your tax dollars. You should be thankful in part Leland to LIBA that you taxes arn't higher than what they are now. "

" Stop with the deterrence arguments already--so many policies are based on this framework when it does not reflect reality.

Deterrence only works for people who don't need to be deterred in the first place. I am deterred by the prospect of spending my life (or, let's be honest, even a day) in prison. Guess what? I am not going to commit any crimes for other reasons--like my life that I have worked so hard to build. Folks who don't have that life that is threatened by prison aren't deterred because they have less to lose. (The policy implication of this is to help all people build better lives, not to punish people more, by the way.)

In addition, a lot of murders are not cold-calculated, made-for-television criminal mastermind homicides. Most homicides and most crimes involve alcohol or drugs and not a lot of planning or forethought...deterrence isn't part of the equation--the penalty could be increased to being drawn and quartered and people who still do it--read some history to see that no matter how terrible the punishments, bad behavior persists.

Research on offenders reveals that offenders don't think about getting caught, they think about how the crime will get them what they want (much in the same way other people eat food they want without thinking about the calories or buy things at the store without thinking about the interest that they are paying on their credit cards).

I apologize for adding actual facts and thoughtfulness into this discussion--I know the plan is for this to be a discussion of "would you want your child's murderer to eat steak in a cushy prison?" or biblical quotes about an eye for an eye or other nonsense.

One last point, offenders generally don't spend 50 or 60 years in prison--when you consider that many have pre-existing serious health conditions and have substance abuse or alcohol abuse histories, the life expectancy for offenders is lower than the general population (oh no, I did it again, I included factual information into this discussion). "

" There is a reason that a State Senator and LIBA are upset. Read their Journal Star comments again, it says

"....the discussion was misleading, pointing to an exchange between Gourley and Danek in which Danek asked if the total package was 4.5 percent, like that approved for teachers." Caffrey said Gourley responded: “That would be as total salary package — correct.”

Gee, I think the entire community should be upset when LIBA reveals that the total package was 11.5%. How can you defend a Superintendent that either didn't know what was in her contract, or mislead the LPS Board? "

" I don't know what the big deal is? It is not like we use the death penalty that often. "

" Anyone can run a Google search and find just as much information to support any viewpoint they want. That doesn't mean a thing. Do you understand how search engines even work? I can create a report saying anything I want. Then all I have to do is create a little publicity (and controversial subjects help), get a million hits on the document and voila Google will rank my report high on the search list when it is total BS.

What is more important for people to recognize is that there is the tendancy for people to only view information that suports what they already believe. Very few people have the objectivity to view all points of view and make informed decisions. Why do you think there are people who will only watch Fox News as their only source of information?

I have seen reports on both sides of the subject that make very questionable assumptions. Let's assume the average death row appeals process takes 20 years to exhaust. It would make very little economic sense to sentance a 65 year old man to death who would have a high chance of dying of old age before the appeals are used up. On the other hand a 20 year old may live another 30-40 years after the appeals process is used up. So if he was sentenced to life in prison versus death you must compare the incarceration costs of 50-60 years versus the appeals cost.

What this whole excersise points out is that the justice system is not about putting a value on the sentence given to the criminal. It is about paying the appropriate price for the crime committed. "

" I've always been curious. Charles Starkweather comitted his murders in January of 1958, and was executed in June of 1959. Michael Ryan was sentenced to death for his cult murders in Rulo in 1985 and is still awaiting execution 23 years later. What was different back then? In each case, there is no question of guilt. Where did this appeals process come from and why have we let it become the ridiculous time waster it is? Why isn't 5 or 10 years enough to appeal? Also, what is the big controversy about lethal injection being botched, or cruel and painful? Veterinarians routinely euthanize animals with a simple overdose of anesthetic, fast and utterly painless. I have witnessed it several times. A competent phlebotomist not bound by the Hippocratic Oath could do this easily. If I had a hideous, terminal disease, this is exactly how I would choose to end my suffering. Somebody help me out here. "

" Hey Zoomie and any others that think that the death penalty doesn't deter crime. Please, tell me then, what crimes have John Joubert and Walking Willie Otey (sp?) committed lately? How about Ted Bundy in Florida?

Frankly, until a murder happens to someone you love, I don't feel you have the right to even have an opinion on the death penalty. The man that murdered my cousin, two of his friends and their dog in Beatrice about 20 years ago is sitting in a jail getting fat. He should have been executed for what he did. Killing everyone in a house just because he got beat up at a party earlier in the night. Two of the victims weren't even home when it happened, but he and his accomplice killed them anyway.

Here's a nice option, how about giving the condemned a few choices on how to die? Lethal injection, hanging, firing squad and lastly, to die in the same manner that they killed their victim. If they don't choose, they get what their victim got. "

" What makes you think limiting the appeals on capital cases and quick executions are a deterrent? If you remember from history, executions were carried out swiftly and in public back in the middle ages and even as late as the 1800's and yet people committed murder.

If you look at the per capita murder rate between Nebraska and Iowa, both very similar demographically, you will see that Iowa, a state that does not have the death penalty, the per capita murder rate is less than half of Nebraskas. Just compare other death penalty states to states that do not have it and you will see that the states that have the death penalty have a higher per capita murder rate. So, where is the deterrence in it?

And, like it has been mentioned, what will you do if you execute someone and later find out that person did not commit the crime? You cannot bring someone back to life.

To all those that say we need the death penalty, would you be willing to be the next person executed if the state does execute an innocent person? "

" Hey Norma, by your logic it is also cheaper to just let them go free. So why not do that if money is the issue? The death penalty is right and just, not about expenses. "

" Ken, they don't "have 50 to 60 years to appeal" like you claim. If the death penalty is going to be viable, the whole system of sppeals needs to be changed. Until then, you're just going to have to accept that it does cost more than putting someone away for their life. Also, even if the appeals process is shortened, this still isn't going to deter criminals. I have taken law classes, and extensive studies prove that it never has and probably never will. These are objective studies, so don't claim bias. If people want to kill, they'll do it.

Consider the cost, you're way off base. Those other examples are totally irrelevant in this argument.

Before you throw a fit, I'm for capital punishment, but not under the current system. It needs a considerable overhaul. "

" I hope that if you oppose the death penalty you also oppose ABORTION. Because then its not making an oops, we are killing innocent people. "

" To stignob: It's only hypocrisy if you believe that a collection of a few cells, ranging up to a non-viable fetus, is equivalent to a fully functioning and sentient human being. "

" stignob - you are way off base. First, I'm no conservative, but support the DP. Second, a small group of cells does not constitute a person. Third, all citizens deserve a government that is not used as a tool to dictate behavior consistant with a religious docterine. "

" I find interesting the story in the Bible about Cain after he killed his brother Abel. God protected Cain from being killed and warned anyone that did kill him would would received God's vengeance sevenfold. Check it out.

Genesis 4:15
"And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain,vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him."- "

" Regarding "LIBA members hypocrites": The money used for the Salary Increases of the Senior LPS Administrators is confiscated from Tax Payers. This money must be remitted whether LPS services are used or not. If it is not remitted fines and prison will surely result.

No one is forced to remit money to the Independent Businesses in Lincoln. The only penalties for not giving mony to LIBA or it members are against them, not the taxpayers.

Thus the argument about LIBA being hippocrates for attempting to do what the School Board will not, look out for taxpayers interests, is not valid. "

" Our criminal justice system is fundamentally flawed in the application of the death penalty. I would be all for it if it were applied in a just manner, but the sad truth is that if two people commit the same crime and one has the resources to afford a high priced legal time, the punishment might be different. If two people commit the same crime, but one is in Texas, and one is in New Mexico, the punishment may be very different. It two people commit the same crime, and one is white, and one is black, the punishment may be different. I truly believe in swift, powerful action against criminals, but this is America. Our great country was founded on some very fundamental principles, which can be inconvenient when painful and emotional situations stir our passions. "

" John K is probably right, but we're making progress. Today, many more Nebraskans (about half, I've seen by a study) are against the death penalty. I adhere to the New Testament, Jesus' teachings, as taking precedence over Old Testament obscure laws, and I believe in keeping society safe while refraining from barbaric practices such as are found in the middle East and China. I believe in allowing God to judge without my trying to supercede him by taking another's life. I believe our justice system is not perfect, and can (and HAS) allow(ed) innocents to be killed in our names as citizens, for crimes not committed. I believe all that is needed now is a law to guarantee life without parole can be a reality we can count on. "

" Zoomy: Capital punishment has Always Deterred Crime. How many times has an executed murderer repeated the offense? "

" I've said before, and I'll say it again, I have no serious problems humanely putting murderers to death, IF...and that's a capitalized IF...IF you can guarantee me that ONLY guilty people are executed!

The experience recently in IL should show one and all that our justice system cannot make such a guarantee. How many was it the ex-Gov released after DNA proved they were innocent, 7, 8 men? All on death row, and all there an average of more than 12 years. An appeals limit or time limit on appeals (and I've seen many an execution supporter say 10 years was a reasonable limit, then execute), and most of these INNOCENT men would have been killed by the state for crimes they did NOT commit!
And shall we get into the basic lack of equality in our judicial system? If you're wealthy, and can hire a team of top-notch lawyers, the likelihood you'll be executed is quite small; if you're poor (and especially if you're a minority member) the chances of conviction shoot up dramatically even when all else is equal! Again, looking at my favorite example of justice gone wild, in TX people have been convicted of murder and sentenced to death while their defense laywers slept. In other cases, since the Judge must approve defense expenditures for the indigent (and Judges are elected, so they have to keep costs down or lose the next election to a "fiscal conservative" challenger), defense lawyers have been limited to spending so little money they literally can't check alibis or pay for lab tests. And should we get into judicial malfeasance? The ex-DA for Fort Worth County in TX, in office over 20 years, was later determined to routinely be withholding evidence that would have resulted in not guilty verdicts, or lab results that proved people innocent! In OK City about 10yrs ago, the head of the city's forensics lab was found to be producing false results to help obtain convictions!

So...if you're comfortable sending someone to death, knowing there is actually a fair chance they didn't commit the crime, well, have at it (but then don't dare try to lecture me about "killing the innocent"). If you are bothered about the idea we might be killing innocent people, then how can you justify anything except the only absolute certainty of a correctable mistake, and support life imprisonment (which has the added fiscal benefit of costing less taxpayer dollars)!

Oh, and the controversy on lethal injection is that it WAS botched, and more than once! From what I read, people were getting the first injection, which basically paralyzes them, but the 2nd, which was supposed to be the anesthesia overdose where they would just go to sleep, would miss a vein and be directly injected into muscle where it apparently causes extreme burning pain (which the convict couldn't openly respond to since he was paralyzed). So they'd inject more...and more...Get the picture? Instead of a painless death, the convict died in agony. "

" The LIBA supporters should go to the LIBA website and look at the membership list. Not all of the members are businesses that sell items to consumers. Notice that many of the news outlets (TV, radio, paper, etc.) are members of LIBA, too. They definitely can influence one's thinking on a particular issue and they are dependent on the consumer's continual support.

RE Mark A's comment's "As a business owner, it's none of the public's business whether I raise prices on my goods or services.." I don't think a business owner that cares so little about his/her customer's perceptions will have very many loyal customers. Without loyal customers how can a business suceed in any economic climate? "

" I agree with Zoomie, I only support the Death Penalty, when, and only when you can 100% prove the guilt. Imagine the day when someone is executed for a crime they didn't do, if that already hasn't happened in the United States. "

" Note to Zoomie: Even though convicted murderer Jobert admitted guilt and wanted no appeals but instead wanted the death penalty, appeals and 20 years expired before he did. What a shame and waste. "

" Strange the 'right' declare they are pro-life yet want the death penalty and love their killing wars. Seems they are pro-life only for the unborn. For the already born, not so much. Plenty were killed, both born and yet to be born, during the invasion of Iraq. Pro-life hypocrisy. "

" The whole crux of the matter about LIBA and Gourley's salary is most likely the huge lump in everyones throat over the out of control property
taxes and the 63% of them that the schools get PLUS vehicles and bunches
of other taxes! The constant closing of schools and building new ones
and as some who have worked for LPS in the past say LPS over spends and
NEVER wants for anything. In this case, when everybody is struggling
to live and pay those high taxes, Gourley's salary increase was shoved
thru PDQ even without a second reading! Knowing some of the school board
members as I do, I understand the "preferences" involved here. At least
LIBA stood up to protect the citizens, especially in a time when the
whole country is diffently not on its way up. Realizing there are those
in Lincoln that close their eyes to the world's financial condition and
continue to live as high on the hog as possible, and expect the public
to pay up!! I'm sure, as this country's mess of greedy have found out,
their preparedness for "get all you can while you can so I don't have to
live on a small retirement like most retirees" sometimes, if not usually,
seems to backfire! Yes, they loose and have taken, thru high taxes and
costs for salaries and every benefit they can think of, everybody with
them. Unfortunately, Lincoln citizens have been very patient with the
tax situation in this city and state, very few cities and states can
testify to that, knowing full well the boundries they can push, yet
have concern for their citizens welfare. Retirees struggle to pay tax on
their small social security which many states do not tax SSC at all, THEN
also have to pay the high property tax. Nebraska has failed to provide for its citizens and grow, putting the burden on especially those who
least can afford it, therefore warrenting big salary increases in this
perilous time is WRONG!! "

" I find it curious that Stignob hasn't noticed, that under 6 years of Bush and Republican power, in Congress, the Senate, and the Supreme Court, that the "Right" hasn't lifted a finger to stop the killing of the "unborn".

The "Left" is generally against the death penalty, because the "Left" are the "Fiscal Conservatives" in this country and want to be financially responsible.

Hypocrisy is endless in Social Conservatism! "

" If you did away with even half of the appeals they get. "

" The death penalty most certainly reduces the possibility of the murderer committing another murder. I support the death penalty when it protects society and only when it protects society. "

" WadeRoe, you do not think the appointments of John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the United States Supreme Court count as lifting a finger to stop abortion?

Supporters of legalized abortion interestingly think they are the ones who decide who is and who is not a person. How about who is and who is not a unique, living and growing individual human being? Personhood is a philosophical concept that can be debated ad infinitum. A human being is a biological fact and can be proven scientifically.

Stranger should spend more time thinking about the innocent and the guilty before he/she makes shallow statements about pro-life proponents. "

" The truth is, John Joubert was executed 12 years after convicted, and had filed many post conviction appeals as well as a writ of habeus corpus.

No need to exaggerate. "

" I'm a small business owner and a resident of Lincoln and I've been a proud, long standing member of LIBA. Because of LIBA our community leaders have had to be accountable for their actions, whether a bond issue (sewer), benefits packages (city govt), inefficiently operated city buses (large Star Tran bus), and of course now the LPS Administration Salaries, LIBA has worked on behalf of citizens to dig into the truth and they continuously take uniformed shots from people like Leland. I applaud the efforts of LIBA's leaders, its members, on bringing to light many of the things that have been or would have been swept under the rug. I understand some of you operate under an umbrella of 'Ignorance is Bliss', I choose to live my life Eyes Wide Open and I would encourage others to do so. Leland, if you choose to continue to believe LIBA is bad for Lincoln, I will let you pay the increases on my annual tax statement from here to eternity. As far as I'm concerned, LIBA is the only entity out there trying to keep my property taxes under control. Keep up the good work LIBA! "

" Eddie, 7/9 of the Supreme court were appointed by so called "Pro-Life" Republicans. Like I said............ "

" It's so frustrating when things like "the Constitution" and the "United States Supreme Court" impose all these silly rules regarding the procedures a state has to follow if they want to kill someone. Why not just let the sheriff decide?

In all seriousness, Nebraska actually executed two innocent people (both before 1930). In one situation, someone else confessed to the murder on his deathbed, and in another the "victim" was discovered living in Kansas several years after the execution. What about the recent Beatrice situation? What if they had been tried by a jury and sentenced to death? The appeal process takes so long because our state statutes require an appeal to the Supreme Court for any sentence of death. This mandatory appeal does not exist for life imprisonments. You can't "fix" an appeal system--if there was something wrong with the case, it gets reversed or remanded or reheard. Murder trials often take at least a year to prepare for, and preparing for the appeal can take just as long.

Finally, the appointment of "pro life" justices to the US Supreme Court is pointless. Even if Roe v. Wade is reversed, it would not make abortions illegal, and the federal government would not have new powers to pass laws against abortions. It would simply put the question to the states to decide. Many states would legalize most abortions (California, NY, etc.). Any state that tried to ban all abortions would face a state-wide vote like they had in South Dakota. If super-conservative South Dakota can't pass an abortion ban, there isn't another state in the country that can, this one included. 60% of Nebraskans are against an outright ban on abortion. "

" If, as some say, we are not to judge and make a person pay a fitting punishment for their crime (eye for an eye) then maybe we should not judge them and leave them incarcerated for life. Get real people, if we don't impose punishment on criminals that fit the crime, then we will soon become (or have already become) a nation that neither fears nor respects the laws of the land. "

" to CS--No, I do not want to be head of LPS, nor did I stay in a holiday Inn last night. Go back to my comments. I compared public pay to private compensation. At no time did I say that "anyone" could do it. I respect people who have had the determination to get a doctorate. But that does not change the fact that an 11.5 percent increase in pay in these econoic times is justifiable, no matter the degrees. In the private world, results count, not degrees. And how many of our schools are rated as "failing"? Do not put words into my mouth. Read my original posting. "

" LIBA can function as it wants, but it should not be considered the FINAL voice for the citizens of Lincoln. If the citizens of Lincoln truly care about taxes and spending, then they should be expressing their viewpoints directly to the city council, the school board, etc. No association or organization should be the only voice to speak to those governing bodies.

I think it is ironic that many of the people who complain about the school system must lack either the ability to spell correctly or type accurately. I am not impressed by their arguments about problems with the school system or the administrators when it appears the commentators can't even spell. "

" Civilized societies ought to have better means of managing crime than just killing one another. Again,our state falls in line with barbaric regimes, instead of solving problems, we kill them. Instead of preventive health care for children and youth, we ship them out of state at great expense, and hold them there. As far as limiting appeals for death penalty recipients, doesn't that restrict a citizen's right to representation, one of the bedrock principles which distinguished our democracy from that of the monarchies of the past? Nebraska is living in a dark age, surrounded by states and nations which have adopted better systems. We are simply too greedy and vengent to see our way forward. There's nothing high-minded about it, we want to control others, without giving them the means to control themselves. We want to take, but not give. We collectively elect pro-death candidates into office, even when given many better options. This is moral bankruptcy. "

" A guess everyone wants a 100% guarantee that the convicted criminal is guilty before any punishment is administered. So if you impose the Life Without Parole penalty and the criminal dies of natural causes or is murdered by another inmate and then is found to be innocent later. What have you done? You have just killed an innocent person. How terrible of you because you can't reverse your deed.

Again based on that idea we have no need for prisons because we can never be 100% sure any one is guilty of anything. They may die before we find out they are innocent. "

" I have another idea that may solve the situation. Lets put a cap on the money the lawyers get processing these appeals. You can guarantee that if the money isn't there for the lawyers the cost of execution would go down substantially. It comes down to money again. "

" I dont care about "deterrence" but, if you put someone to death they sure wont reoffend!!! "

" While everyone else argues about capital punishment, taxes and pay raises, I'd just like to thank Bill and Evonne Williams of Omaha for the countless volunteer hours they have put into making the Heartland Honor Flights such a huge success.

This has been a fantastic program to honor and thank all of the World War II vets--"The Greatest Generation"-- in Nebraska and around the country.

To think that they organized all of it, while both maintaining full-time jobs, is incredible.

Thank you, to them and to all the veterans, who have fought to preserve our freedoms, including the freedom to argue on the journal-star boards! "

" Death penalty appeals are not profitable for attorneys. Defense attorneys in these cases are almost always public defenders or are court appointed (paid for by the county because the PD can't ethically represent all co-defendants), they get paid their same salary no matter what, and you can be that their work load doesn't decrease just because they also have to defend a capital murder trial. The only appeals they file are the appeals required by Nebraska law and those they are ethically obligated to file to fulfill their duty to their client. State attorneys don't make money on capital trials for the same reason. They get paid salary, not by the hour. All a capital murder trial does is push back the other cases they have. Nebraska hardly ever sentences people to death, and hasn't executed anyone in more than a decade, it has only killed 3 since the seventies. Are all the mandatory appeals and procedures and fighting and wasted legislature time and investment in lethal injection equipment and time spent by attorneys and the courts worth the satisfaction of killing one person every decade?

As much as many of us would like to streamline the capital punishment process, the United States Supreme Court will not allow the state to execute someone without an appeal or review of the sentence. You may not like the rules, but our state can't change them. Feel free to vote for a president that will appoint judges who don't believe in appeals. "

" If the death penalty were a deterrent. Texas would be crime free. "

" What is the acceptable percentage of innocent people put to death by accident? "

" Truth about appeals: I'm glad you explained the money situation with the attorneys. But why do they keep saying it costs more to process appeals when Capital Punishment is administered as if Life Without Parole was adminitered. The cost of the appeals would be the same whether were appeals or not. Right?. "