George,

I love Senator Berry's idea!

I'd offer a friendly amendment that would say that any difference in cost to the State would be borne *or* refunded to the deceased's estate. That way death penalty opponents would actually make thousand and thousands of dollars for their heirs!

Even someone as "creative" as Senator Berry knows that it is far more expensive to prosecute and eventually execute someone than it is to imprison them for life. I think this guy should teach math in the vaunted Fairfax County School system.

His constituents must be very proud.

John McCutcheon (electronic mail, December 26, 2001).