The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled markup Thursday for the Senator Webb's Crime Bill, S.1714 creating an expert panel to spend up to 2 years suggesting measures to overhaul our criminal Justice system.
Iowa Republican Charles Grassley's Amendment would bar the commission from "considering" "legalization" of presently controlled substances.
Found at LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibion's) copsaylegalize blog
Here's LEAP's automated email to your Senator widget
Judiciary Committee members
* Patrick Leahy, Vermont, Chairman
* Herb Kohl, Wisconsin
* Dianne Feinstein, California
* Russ Feingold, Wisconsin
* Chuck Schumer, New York
* Dick Durbin, Illinois
* Ben Cardin, Maryland
* Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
* Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
* Ted Kaufman, Delaware
* Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania
* Al Franken, Minnesota
* Jeff Sessions, Alabama, Ranking Member
* Orrin Hatch, Utah
* Chuck Grassley, Iowa
* Jon Kyl, Arizona
* Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
* John Cornyn, Texas
* Tom Coburn, Oklahoma
Update 1 Hatch and Graham are cosponsors of the parent bill.
Update 2 Official summary of S 714. (*Grassley amendment's not up yet.)
SUMMARY AS OF: 3/26/2009--Introduced.
National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 - Establishes the National Criminal Justice Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system.
Directs the Commission to: (1) review all areas of federal and state criminal justice costs, practices, and policies; (2) make specified findings relating to incarceration, prison administration, the impact of gang activity, drug policy, mental illness among prisoners and the role of the military in crime prevention; (3) make recommendations for changes in policies and laws to address findings; (4) consult with government and nongovernmental leaders, including state and local law enforcement officials; and (5) submit a final report to Congress and the President and make such report public.
UPDATE 3: MARIJUANA ON THE BALLOT TODAY
Maine, in addition to the marriage inuitiative, votes on expansion of the State's medical marijuana law to allow dispensaries.
BRECKINRIDGE, CO votes on removing all penaties under City Ordinance for possession of up to 1 ounce.