Lawmaker wants to reinstate death penalty after deaths of two Io - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

The death of two young girls in Eastern Iowa has spurred talk of reinstating the death penalty.     Iowa repealed capital punishment in 1965.  Republican State Senator Kent Sorenson wants to bring it back.  Republican Governor Terry Branstad said he supports Sorenson's efforts, but the death penalty won't be one of his priorities.

Two Siouxland State Senators say they don't expect the legislation to even come to a vote.  Bill Anderson says social issues have been on the back burner for a couple of years, and he doesn't expect that to change.  Sen. Bill Anderson, (R) Dist. 27, says "I would have liked to have seen us address traditional marriage, abortion these last couple years.  Those were not issues on Senator Gronstal's agenda , and I don't foresee the death penalty being on Senator Gronstal's agenda."  Sen. Rick Bertrand, (R) Sioux City says "I'm not sure legislatively there's a will to take action, but I think anytime you can bring awareness to capital punishment, and some of the issues and how other states deal with it, I think is a good conversation."

Governor Branstad tried unsuccessfully to reinstate capital punishment the last time he was governor.