Tuesday, December 04, 2018

 

Update on the First Step Act


I wish there was some kind of breaking news--First Step Act passes the Senate!--but there really isn't. There is some movement, though...

The bill now has 28 co-sponsors in the Senate, evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. Here is the complete list:

1.     Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
2.     Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) 
3.     Mike Lee (R-Utah)
4.     Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
5.     Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)
6.     Cory Booker (D-N.J.)
7.     Tim Scott (R-S.C.)
8.     Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
9.     Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)
10.  Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)
11.  Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
12.  Chris Coons (D-Del.)
13.  Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), 
14.  Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.),
15.  Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), 
16.  Doug Jones (D-Ala.),
17.  Susan Collins (R-Maine), 
18.  Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.),
19.  Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), 
20.  Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.),
21.  Rand Paul (R-Ky.), 
22.  Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii)
23.  Rob Portman (R-Ohio)
24.  Angus King (I-Maine).
25.  Todd Young (R-Ind.)
26.  Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)
27.  Bill Cassidy (R-La.)
28.  Ben Cardin (D-Md.)

Isn't it strange to actually see a bi-partisan list? The list of supporters is longer than the list of co-sponsors, of course, and it seems that all of the Democratic Senators are prepared to vote yes. That means (given the 14 Republican co-sponsors) that even without a whip count it seems clear that there are 60 votes in favor.

The opposition is coming mainly from a small group of Senators led by Tom Cotton of Arkansas. 

Comments:
The easiest thing one can do to help is email your Senators; especially if they are not co-sponsors and ask them to support this legislation and have them urge Senator McConnell to bring this bill to the Floor for a vote.

I emailed mine this morning.
 
Thank you, Christine! You are right about that, too-- they do keep track of email, especially from constituents.
 
I belong to an Indivisible group and we have gotten good at the email thing. I prefer it over calling as their voice mails are usually full. I kept my message very simple:

I urge you to support the First Step Act. Please have Senator McConnell bring this legislation to the floor for a vote. Prison reform in our country is long overdue.
 
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