Bipartisan Show of Support for Justice Reinvestment Act
ANNAPOLIS — Republicans and Democrats met for bagels and bipartisanship Wednesday to voice support for the Justice Reinvestment Act, a bill aimed at reducing the prison population by diverting nonviolent offenders to drug treatment rather than incarceration.
Former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, a Republican, joined delegates and senators from both parties Wednesday morning. He said Justice Reinvestment was an effort he started that was coming “full circle” now.
“We get paid to do justice, governors particularly should be concerned about justice,” Ehrlich said.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Calvert, estimated final passage would come in the next five or six days.
Republicans and Democrats would sit on the conference committee to work out differences between the Senate version, which passed 46-0, and the House version, which is still in committee.
Kathleen Dumais, D-Montgomery, vice chair of the House Judiciary committee, said she thought the bill would progress in the full House later this week.
Former Maryland governor Bob Ehrlich discusses House Bill 1312 and justice reinvestment at a news conference on March 30, 2016, at the Senate Office Building in Annapolis, Maryland. (Capital News Service photo by Jessica Campisi)Stuart O. Simms, former secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services, speaks at a news conference for justice reform on March 30, 2016, at the Senate Office Building in Annapolis, Maryland. (Capital News Service photo by Jessica Campisi)Sen. Kathleen M. Dumais, D-Montgomery, addresses other legislators and supporters about justice reform on March 30, 2016, at the Senate Office Building in Annapolis, Maryland. (Capital News Service photo by Jessica Campisi)Sen. Michael J. Hough, R-Carroll and Frederick, speaks about a justice reform bill, which passed 46-0 in the Senate, on March 30, 2016, at the Senate Office Building in Annapolis, Maryland. (Capital News Service photo by Jessica Campisi)A group of Maryland legislators, including former Maryland governor Bob Ehrlich, listen at a news conference about justice reform on March 30, 2016, at the Senate Office Building in Annapolis, Maryland. (Capital News Service photo by Jessica Campisi)Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller speaks at a news conference on March 30, 2016, at the Senate Office Building in Annapolis, Maryland, about justice reform. (Capital News Service photo by Jessica Campisi)Maryland legislators and supporters of justice reform greet former Maryland governor Bob Ehrlich at a news conference on March 30, 2016, at the Senate Office Building in Annapolis, Maryland. (Capital News Service photo by Jessica Campisi)Former Maryland governor Bob Ehrlich discusses House Bill 1312 and justice reinvestment at a news conference on March 30, 2016, at the Senate Office Building in Annapolis, Maryland. (Capital News Service photo by Jessica Campisi)
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