Compromise struck on criminal justice reform [View all]
Source: Politico
Top senators who have been quietly revising a controversial overhaul of criminal justice laws unveiled their reworked compromise on Thursday that they believe addresses conservative criticisms that could have derailed the bill in the Senate.
Influential Senate Democrats and Republicans held a news conference trumpeting the changes and to try and show a renewed sense of momentum behind the long-stalled legislation that tries to ease mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenders.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democratic co-sponsor of the bill, added: “This is the best chance in a generation to reform our criminal drug sentencing laws.”
Republican Sens. Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Steve Daines of Montana are among the new co-sponsors of the revised legislation. GOP Sens. Mark Kirk of Illinois and Thad Cochran of Mississippi also endorsed the bill after changes were made in recent weeks. New Democratic backers include Sens. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Bill Nelson of Florida.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/criminal-justice-reform-senate-222577
= new reply since forum marked as read