May 27, 2016, Fairfax, Va.–Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging the House not to act on sentencing reform legislation until the Senate does:
“Americans for Limited Government strongly opposes the sentencing reform bills in the House and Senate no matter what because they will empty federal prisons and guarantee additional, unnecessary victims of violent crime.
“That said, the House of Representatives should cease and desist from proceeding with any legislation that lowers sentences until at the very least the Senate shows a willingness to pass legislation with mens rea reform. Given Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s adamant opposition to mens rea reform at a recent press conference meant to denote supposed bipartisan cooperation, and his stated desire to prosecute corporate officers who have no knowledge of any wrongdoing, it would be foolish for the House to act absent Senate passage of acceptable mens rea language.
“For the House to conference a criminal justice bill without the Senate already passing this major reform would guarantee that mens rea would be stripped out of the final version. Mens rea reform of the criminal justice system in this era of Obama regulations on virtually everything that is produced in our country has never been more important.
“However, protecting the American people against the premature release of thousands of high level drug dealers is of paramount importance. The House and Senate should drop this Obama legacy mass prison break bill and not waste any further time on it.”
Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick Manning.
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