Death penalty bill ends in House committee

A bill authorizing the death penalty in first degree murder cases was approved Thursday...but almost as quickly, was put on the shelf.  House Public Safety Committee chairman and Greenfield Republican Clel Baudler says there weren't enough votes in his committee to put it on the House floor for debate. He says it's a good bill, but Republicans are divided on the legislation so he's putting it on hold--effectively killing it for the year.  A similar bill hasn't made it out of subcommittee in the Iowa Senate.