Biden plan reverses key provisions of 1994 crime bill he helped write

[bluewater]

Joe Biden unveils criminal justice plan that reverses key provisions of 1994 crime bill he helped write
By THOMAS BEAUMONT and ELANA SCHOR

Joe Biden is proposing to reverse several key provisions of the 1994 crime bill he helped write in an acknowledgment that his tough-on-crime positions of the past are at odds with the views of the modern Democratic Party.

In a speech later Tuesday in New Orleans, the former vice president will call for an end to the disparity that placed stricter sentencing terms on offenses involving crack versus powder cocaine as well as an end to the federal death penalty, which the legislation authorized as a potential punishment for an increasing number of crimes.

Biden is the early Democratic front-runner in no small part because of support from black voters who are crucial to winning the party's presidential nomination. But his role in crafting the 1994 crime bill could become a vulnerability. Several of his rivals have blamed the crime bill for the mass incarceration of racial minorities over the past two decades.

Biden's moves could be an attempt to blunt fellow White House contenders Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, who have escalated their critiques of the former vice president's handling of race in recent weeks. All three candidates will share a stage at next week's presidential debate.

Booker has hinted that he would renew his criticisms of Biden's lead role on the 1994 crime bill when the two candidates share the stage during the second set of Democratic presidential debates in Detroit next week. He offered a preview of that criticism on Tuesday, pushing back at Biden's criminal justice plan in a tweet that didn't name the former vice president: "It's not enough to tell us what you're going to do for our communities, show us what you've done for the last 40 years," Booker wrote.

Harris, too, has criticized Biden's role in the 1994 bill. However, Biden plans to note during his speech Tuesday his time as a public defender before entering politics in the early 1970s.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-joe-biden-crime-bill-20190723-ogzsftxae5gr7keaftui5tukni-story.html

[MichMan]

1. One thing I never understood about crack vs cocaine ?

Knowing that the penalties for dealing crack were so much more strict than powder cocaine, how stupid would one have to be to continue to sell crack ?

[SouthernProgressive]

2. I had a shitty comment I was about to send your way...

And then I realized it’s actually awesome that you know so little about drugs. Crack is a cheaper alternative. Its socioeconomic in nature. Additionally, take away people’s hope and does the possible time matter all that much. Violent crime is often higher in areas where crack is prevalent.

There is more to it but that about covers it.

[MichMan]

3. I dont have any personal experience using either one.

Did smoke a lot of weed back in the day.

[Demit]

4. AP updated this story a few minutes ago to note he didn't talk about his proposed reforms today.

"He was expected to talk about his criminal justice reform proposal at a speech Tuesday in New Orleans, but he didn’t do so. He is scheduled to be in Detroit on Wednesday for the NAACP national convention."

Maybe he'll talk about them tomorrow in Detroit?

[bluewater]

5. Thanks for that update!

On consideration, won't he simply have to discuss his criminal justice reform proposal tomorrow?
Seems like a golden opportunity.

The NAACP National Convention would be a center stage venue in which to present it before a friendly audience.

[Demit]

6. I found it b/c the Trib, in picking up the wire story, added text & the result didn't make sense.

The Trib's text:
"Harris, too, has criticized Biden's role in the 1994 bill. However, Biden plans to note during his speech Tuesday his time as a public defender before entering politics in the early 1970s.

Although Biden advisers say it's not a subtle shot at Harris, who has been criticized by criminal justice reform advocates as being too tough on the accused during her tenures as the San Francisco district attorney and as California's attorney general before she was elected senator."


The original AP text:
"Harris, too, has chastised Biden’s role in the 1994 bill. But Harris herself has been criticized by criminal justice reform advocates as being too tough on the accused during her tenures as the San Francisco district attorney and as California’s attorney general before she was elected senator."


I am curious to hear what he has to say about his time as a public defender, as it only lasted for a few months while he was in between law firm jobs.