The House Democratic majority is ordering in dinner Wednesday, when the House is scheduled to begin debating the repeal of the death penalty. They are being flexible on breakfast.

Based on past debates, final passage is unlikely until Thursday morning.

The Senate voted 20-16 last week — in the early hours Thursday morning — to approve a bill that abolishes capital punishment for future crimes, while leaving in place the sentences of the 11 men on death row.

The House approved a similar bill, 90-56, in 2009, when Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed the measure. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has pledged to sign the bill into law.

Advocates say privately the vote will be closer this year.

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Mark PazniokasCapitol Bureau Chief

Mark is the Capitol Bureau Chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror. He is a frequent contributor to WNPR, a former state politics writer for The Hartford Courant and Journal Inquirer, and contributor for The New York Times.

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