Governor Gilmore tried again, taking back the microphone and offering that perhaps it was not "wise" to anticipate too much about the future.

"This is more a matter of working with what we've got," Governor Gilmore said.

But the commissioners could not agree, so they called Governor Gilmore to advise him of their discussions.

But Governor Gilmore plans to ignore that requirement, his aides said.

Governor Gilmore said the government was spending $10.4 billion for the purpose.

In an interview this week, Governor Gilmore said that the recommended penalties suited him just fine.

Governor Gilmore and other state officials have firmly defended the fairness of the death penalty system.

"We have not seen a comprehensive training and planning program," Governor Gilmore said.

But no accord was reached, Governor Gilmore said, as the commissioners left for dinner.

Governor Gilmore is seeing firsthand, free money has its price.