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Legislative Republicans, Critics Vow To Fight Wolf's Death Penalty Moratorium

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Legislative Republicans and other critics vow to turn up the heat on Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf over his decision to impose a moratorium on the state's death penalty.

Montgomery County House Republican Mike Vereb says Governor Wolf's death penalty moratorium was an end run around state lawmakers and the people who elected them.

"Governor Wolf recently decided to ignore us all," he says. "Pennsylvania crime victims deserve justice. What they are receiving from the governor is politics."

With Vereb at a capitol news conference was Tricia Wertz, widow of a slain Reading police officer. Wertz says Pennsylvania's death penalty is flawed…

"Flawed for the victims and flawed for their families left behind, that is, not flawed for the killers," she says. "I hope to see Scott's killer put to death in my lifetime. I had hoped it would happen in my parents' lifetime. But at this rate, I don't see that happening."

"The governor has deep sympathy for her and everything that she's gone through," says Wolf spokesman Jeff Sheridan. "Governor Wolf's decision to place a moratorium on the death penalty is in no way an expression of sympathy for the guilty on death row."

House Republicans say they'll hold hearings -- starting later this month in Philadelphia -- to focus on the death penalty and victims.

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