$50 million could buy a lot of hamburgers

The Associated Press bureau in Kentucky has a story on the wires today suggesting that Kentucky has spent $50 million per execution in the modern era. The state has executed two people. Here's the first part of the story:

Death penalty cost study sought----OFFICIAL GUESSES PRICE OF LAST 2 EXECUTIONS AT $50 MILLION EACH

Since Kentucky reinstated capital punishment in 1976, 2 men have been executed, 36 people are now on Death Row and numerous others once under death sentences have had their convictions or sentences overturned.

Ernie Lewis, director of the Department of Public Advocacy and charged with providing legal defense for the condemned, guesses it has cost taxpayers perhaps $50 million for each of the state's 2 executions. Death sentences have been overturned more than half the time, he added.

"We're not doing it very well," Lewis said.