With three weeks left before Pennsylvania's first execution in 13 years, a bipartisan legislative task force studying the death penalty's efficacy asked Gov. Corbett on Thursday to halt executions until the panel file sits report in December 2013.
 
Calling the delay "particularly prudent," the taskforce, in a letter to Corbett, noted that Pennsylvania has not executed anyone in 50 years.
 
The letter on state Senate stationery was signed by the taskforce's two ranking members - State Sen. Daylin Leach, a Montgomery County Democrat, and State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, a Montgomery County Republican -and all 12 members of its advisory committee.
 
Corbett spokeswoman Janet Kelley said Corbett had not seenthe letter and had no immediate comment.
 
According to state prison officials, Pennsylvania has 200people - 197 men and 3 women - awaiting execution at five state prisons.