Capitol Ideas: Criminal Justice Reform A Big Win For Grassley

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley is about to leave the Senate Judiciary Committee with a bang.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced last week that he would schedule a floor vote on the criminal justice reform proposal that Grassley has been pushing for years.The bill would reduce sentences for non-violent offenders in federal prisons, provide more sentencing discretion for judges, and aims to lower the rate of offenders returning to prison after being released, according to Grassley’s office.The bill has been called the most significant sentencing reform in decades and has strong bipartisan support.But McConnell had held off on scheduling a floor vote until last week when he relented, saying he did so at least partially at the behest of President Donald Trump.Grassley next year will step down as chairman of the Judiciary Committee — through which the criminal justice reform bill passed — to become chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.If indeed the criminal justice reform bill passes the Senate and House — Speaker Paul Ryan says it will — and makes it to Trump’s desk, it will be a significant legislative achievement for Grassley as he steps aside as Judiciary Committee chairman.Grassley was lukewarm to the criminal justice reform legislation early in its life span, but over time became a vocal proponent.“Over the last several years, we’ve expanded support for comprehensive criminal justice reform by listening to stakeholders and lawmakers to strike a balance that reduces crime and recidivism, and the associated taxpayer burden, while ensuring that dangerous and career criminals face steep consequences for their actions,” Grassley said last week in a statement.