It appears that the death penalty repeal bill in Kansas has stalled and is probably dead for the session. Jeannine Koranda reports for the Wichita Eagle that the bill has been referred back to committee for further study. "Judiciary Committee Chairman Tim Owens, R-Overland Park, says the move probably ends the debate for the year. His panel is likely to forward the measure to the state's advisory Judicial Council for review."

This is one of those rare cases where further study is actually needed. Legislatures have been moving forward under inflated estimates of cost savings from repeal and failure to consider the cost savings that could be achieved by the alternative of fixing the review process.