WBAL.com

On the opening day of the Maryland General Assembly’s 2009 session, a key swing vote in the death penalty debate says he still hasn’t decided how he will vote when lawmakers consider legislation to abolish the death penalty.

One month after the Governor’s Commission on Capital Punishment released its final report recommending the death penalty be abolished, Frederick County Republican Senator Alex Mooney also admits that still hasn’t read the panel’s report.

“I plan on reading it for sure. I think every member should read it. I’m sure we’ll hearing about the issue, and during the hearing have the results as well,” Mooney told WBAL News.

Mooney would not say when he might read the report.

Mooney is one of 11 senators who sits on the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.