U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., reintroduced a bill to abolish the federal death penalty Thursday, calling the practice ineffective and racially biased.
""I oppose the death penalty because it is inconsistent with the basic principles of justice, liberty and equality,"" Feingold said in a statement. ""It is truly unfortunate that we are in a shrinking minority of countries that continue to allow state-sponsored executions.""
Feingold said he believes New Mexico's recent abolition of the death penalty shows the public supports ending the practice.
In 2006, Wisconsin voters approved a statewide referendum stating the death penalty should be allowed for first-degree intentional homicide cases where DNA evidence is available. The referendum was only advisory and never signed into law, with Gov. Jim Doyle previously stating he would veto such a bill.
Wisconsin has had a statewide moratorium on the death penalty since 1853, with the last execution in 1851.
