HELENA - House Republicans put a stop Friday to separate plans that would repeal the state's death penalty and get rid of an obsolete state law that criminalizes gay sex.

Both plans had cleared the state Senate - but the large Republican majority in the House Judiciary Committee tabled them and made it clear the GOP supermajority in that chamber won't allow either to advance.

The death penalty repeal would have replaced the punishment with life in prison without parole. Supporters argue the risk of killing an innocent person is too great, while opponents argue it remains valuable punishment for heinous crimes.

The judiciary committee has proven a stumbling block for a repeal of the death penalty since the 2005 session. The last time a measure to abolish the death penalty cleared the committee was in 2003, but it was defeated on the House floor.

Supporters still could try to override the committee with a floor vote, but with Republicans holding a 68-32 majority in the chamber the measure appears dead.

Also turned back was a plan to get rid of a state law making gay sex subject to criminal penalties - even though the courts have ruled it unconstitutional and unenforceable.