The New Mexico House of Representatives today passed the death penalty restoration bill, HB 7, by a vote of 36-30.  Regrettably, the vote was along party lines.  Hopefully some of those "no" votes won't be back in 2017.  The Senate adjourned without considering the bill, allowing its members who would have voted no to chicken out and not face the voters with an express vote on the record.

Although the bill will not be enacted this year, it is a landmark.  A restoration bill has passed a house of an American legislature for the first time after a period when the other side had the legislative momentum.  Hopefully favorable votes by the people of Nebraska and California a month from now will add to the momentum in the correct direction.