We post news and comment on federal criminal justice issues, focused primarily on trial and post-conviction matters, legislative initiatives, and sentencing issues.

MCCONNELL TO BRING FIRST STEP TO A VOTE

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) folded yesterday, announcing during a floor speech that the Senate will vote this month on the FIRST STEP Act, S.3649.

McConnell said the Senate will take up the legislation, written by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Illinois) and several other Democratic and GOP senators, despite the controversial nature of the bill within the Senate Republican ranks. The bill could be debated as early as the end of this week.

Proponents of the bill believe the changes could receive as many as 85 votes in the Senate. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), who also privately pressured McConnell to take up the bill, has pledged swift action before the House leaves town for the year-end holidays.

The decision to put the bill to a vote comes “at the request of the president and following improvements to the legislation” secured by several senators, McConnell said.

At this time, no one knows what FIRST STEP’s sponsors had to give away, but Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said last Friday that he was supporting the measure now because it would be amended to prevent those convicted of crimes of violence from benefitting from earning earlier release for completing programs that reduce recidivism.

McConnell warned that because of the decision to add the criminal justice bill to the Senate agenda, “members should now be prepared to work between Christmas and New Year’s.” He urged senators to “work together or prepare for a very, very long month.” On the Senate’s to-do list is passing a farm bill, averting a partial government shutdown and clearing the deck of judicial and executive branch nominations.

The legislation has the strong support of Trump and his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Responding to McConnell’s announcement, Trump’s daughter Ivanka tweeted, “It’s official . . . the #FIRSTStepAct is headed to the floor for a vote. This historic legislation will reform our prison system and lift millions of Americans!”

Washington Post, McConnell to bring up criminal-justice bill for a Senate vote (Dec. 11)

The New York Times, Criminal Justice Bill Will Go Up for a Vote, McConnell Says (Dec. 11)

– Thomas L. Root