Ohio Republicans Want Secret Government Executions

Posted by | November 30, 2014 09:37 | Filed under: Mark Quincy Adams News Behaving Badly Opinion Politics Top Stories


Republicans sure like to execute people but, like so much of what they do, the public gets a little uneasy when informed about the things they love to do. The Solution? Propose a law making the details of government executions secret.

Republican lawmakers in Ohio are rushing through the most extreme secrecy bill yet attempted by a death penalty state, which would withhold information on every aspect of the execution process from the public, media and even the courts.

The draft legislation, framed by Republican state lawmakers Jim Buchy and Matt Huffman, has passed the state House of Representatives and now goes before the Senate. Republican leaders, backed by Ohio’s attorney general, Mike DeWine, want to ram it through no later than 17 December.

The move to erect a wall of secrecy is particularly alarming in Ohio, a state that has experienced no fewer than four botched executions in the past eight years. The most recent was the 26-minute death of Dennis McGuire in January, using an experimental two-drug combination. Eyewitnesses reported him gasping and fighting for breath.

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Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Mark Quincy Adams

A proud 'pragmatic progressive' Mark Quincy Adams has been a political
talk show host and prolific pontificator since 1992. Find him on Facebook and Twitter @politicalglutton

64 responses to Ohio Republicans Want Secret Government Executions

  1. whatthe46 November 30th, 2014 at 14:08

    well, if its botched, no one will know a thing about it. i get it now.

  2. whatthe46 November 30th, 2014 at 15:08

    well, if its botched, no one will know a thing about it. i get it now.

  3. Warman1138 November 30th, 2014 at 17:02

    The GOP in Ohio are having a ”Happy Orwell” moment. But seriously, once you open this door then it’s only a matter of time before other things related become secret. Like arrests, indictments, jails, prisons, law enforcement, courts; etc. will become shrouded in mystery and misinformation.

    • whatthe46 November 30th, 2014 at 18:33

      much like the ferguson prosecution.

  4. Warman1138 November 30th, 2014 at 18:02

    The GOP in Ohio are having a ”Happy Orwell” moment. But seriously, once you open this door then it’s only a matter of time before other things related become secret. Like arrests, indictments, jails, prisons, law enforcement, courts; etc. will become shrouded in mystery and misinformation.

    • whatthe46 November 30th, 2014 at 19:33

      much like the ferguson prosecution.

  5. Spirit of America November 30th, 2014 at 19:47

    The bill has 3 main components:
    1. The compounding pharmacy’s name isn’t a matter of public record for 20 years unless needed. Plus the administrators/participants are given the same.
    (personally I agree w/this. the injection is made per person, not sell a gallon and use over/over. if something goes wrong, then the name of the cp is divulged for the investigation/trial, but not until then)

    2. Voiding agreements to ban drug sales.
    (disagree w/this provision. for several reasons actually)

    3. Prevents the Ohio State Medical
    Board from revoking or suspending the license of any physician who
    provides expert testimony on the state’s death penalty.
    (I agree w/this part as well. the revoking/suspending because of providing testimony shouldn’t happen for any topic. juries need data, not to mention the free speech aspect.)

  6. Spirit of America November 30th, 2014 at 20:47

    The bill has 3 main components:
    1. The compounding pharmacy’s name isn’t a matter of public record for 20 years unless needed. Plus the administrators/participants are given the same.
    (personally I agree w/this. the injection is made per person, not sell a gallon and use over/over. if something goes wrong, then the name of the cp is divulged for the investigation/trial, but not until then)

    2. Voiding agreements to ban drug sales.
    (disagree w/this provision. for several reasons actually)

    3. Prevents the Ohio State Medical
    Board from revoking or suspending the license of any physician who
    provides expert testimony on the state’s death penalty.
    (I agree w/this part as well. the revoking/suspending because of providing testimony shouldn’t happen for any topic. juries need data, not to mention the free speech aspect.)

  7. Dave Lanson December 1st, 2014 at 15:47

    We have the chance to become another El Salvador or Chile. We’ll have our own “disappeared” who simply cease to exist.

  8. Dave Lanson December 1st, 2014 at 16:47

    We have the chance to become another El Salvador or Chile. We’ll have our own “disappeared” who simply cease to exist.

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