State Assembly Balks On Early Release Proposal
Sacramento, CA — Although the Senate passed the “early prisoner release” proposal by a 21-19 margin Thursday afternoon the Assembly had failed to follow suit by midnight.
For most of the day the Assembly failed to pick up 41 votes needed to pass the measure. According to sacbee.com Assembly Republican leader Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo criticized the rush to pass the bill stating, “I do not understand the need to pass a bill in the dead of night. Matters of this importance deserve review.”
Republicans and even four Democrats (Lou Correa/Santa Ana, Alex Padilla/Los Angeles, Ron Calderson/Montello and Dean Florez/Shafter) did not vote for the proposal. Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth of Murrieta labeled the plan “an exploitation of a fiscal problem to achieve a liberal agenda.”
On the other side of the aisle Chino Democrat Gloria Negrete McLeod responded to the Republicans fearing an increased crime rate by commenting, “I trump each and everyone of you with children and grandchildren. And you know what? I’m not scared.”
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com