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Grassley says criminal justice bill would pass 'overwhelmingly' if McConnell allows vote
Source: Washington Post
Grassley says criminal justice bill would pass ‘overwhelmingly’ if McConnell allows vote
By John Wagner December 4 at 11:53 AM
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) voiced frustration Tuesday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has yet to allow a vote on a bipartisan criminal justice bill that has the backing of President Trump.
Grassley said that he has met a target for support set by McConnell and that senators should take up the legislation by the end of the year, arguing that Republicans could even delay the confirmation of some judicial nominees to create more time.
“All I can say is if McConnell will bring this up, it will pass overwhelmingly,” Grassley said during a “Washington Post Live” event.
The bill, backed by an unusual left-right coalition both inside Capitol Hill and among advocacy networks nationwide, would ease some mandatory minimum sentences and gives judges more flexibility in some cases, while implementing efforts to help rehabilitate prisoners.
The legislation is overwhelmingly supported by Democrats but has divided Senate Republicans, with opponents arguing that it is soft on crime.
-snip-
By John Wagner December 4 at 11:53 AM
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) voiced frustration Tuesday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has yet to allow a vote on a bipartisan criminal justice bill that has the backing of President Trump.
Grassley said that he has met a target for support set by McConnell and that senators should take up the legislation by the end of the year, arguing that Republicans could even delay the confirmation of some judicial nominees to create more time.
“All I can say is if McConnell will bring this up, it will pass overwhelmingly,” Grassley said during a “Washington Post Live” event.
The bill, backed by an unusual left-right coalition both inside Capitol Hill and among advocacy networks nationwide, would ease some mandatory minimum sentences and gives judges more flexibility in some cases, while implementing efforts to help rehabilitate prisoners.
The legislation is overwhelmingly supported by Democrats but has divided Senate Republicans, with opponents arguing that it is soft on crime.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/grassley-says-criminal-justice-bill-would-pass-overwhelmingly-if-mcconnell-allows-vote/2018/12/04/51ae2e66-f7c5-11e8-8c9a-860ce2a8148f_story.html