Criminal justice on pol agenda

A bipartisan bill that aims to overhaul the nation's sentencing laws and improve rehabilitation programs for ex-cons is finally headed for a vote in the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday.

The First Step Act is being added to the chamber's busy end-of-the-year schedule following pressure from President Trump and criminal justice reform advocates.

Trump, who announced his support for the legislation last month, applauded the decision to move the bill to the floor.

“We got word that Mitch McConnell, we're putting up for a vote,” he said Tuesday. “Criminal Justice Reform is something people have been working on for many years. It looks like it is going to be passing in a bipartisan way.”

A majority of Democrats support the bill, which would give judges more discretion when sentencing nonviolent offenders, particularly for drug offenses. It would also place federal prisoners no more than 500 miles from home – making it easier for families to visit.

It would allow for more home confinement for lowerlevel offenders and expand prison employment programs. Supporters believe the changes would make the nation's criminal justice system fairer, reduce overcrowding in federal prisons and save taxpayer dollars.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) believes the bill has enough backing to pass both chambers.

“I think you'll see a number of Republicans now come onboard supporting this bill as amended,” Cornyn said. “The fact that people now know we're going to vote on it is going to cause people to have to make decisions.”

Trump became a backer of the bill as his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, worked behind the scenes with Republican senators over the past two years to get it to a vote.

Most Democrats are supportive of the legislation, as was former President Barack Obama, who had hoped it would pass before he exited the White House.