What Gives? California Gov. Jerry Brown Lines Up With NRA and Prison-Industrial Complex

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/brown-vetoes-suggest-re-election-bid



California Gov. Jerry Brown has killed one of the most common-sense criminal justice reforms to come from the state legislature in years—lessening charges for possessing illegal drugs—in what looks like positioning for a 2014 re-election bid.

“Today is a frustrating day in California,” wrote Margaret Dooley-Sammuli, a criminal justice and drug policy advocate for the state’s ACLU. “The coalition of organizations and elected leaders that backed SB 649 is not giving up on sentencing reform.”

On Saturday, the Democratic governor vetoed a bill that would have given discretion to prosecutors to downgrade drug charges for possession of pot, opiates, cocaine and some hallucinogens to a misdemeanor, removing the lifelong stigma of felony charges, and keeping users out of the state’s overcrowded prisons by directing them to other care.

“We are going to examine in detail California’s criminal justice system, including the current sentencing structure,” Brown’s veto message said. “We will do so with the full participation of all necessary parties, including law enforcement, local government, courts and treatment providers. There will be appropriate time to evalaute our existing drug laws.”

Brown’s veto appears to be part of a pattern in recent days as he has plowed through scores of bills that must be signed into law or vetoed. Taken together, they show Brown keeping a calculated arms’ length from legislative reformers while embracing powerful instititions and lobbies.

[Fumesucker]

1. Governor Moonbeam indeed

Interesting that the actual citizens of California weren't included as one of the "necessary parties".

[DefenseLawyer]

2. But the police and the jailers are quite necessary

We have to ask the police and the jailers what they think is an appropriate sentence for a crime, because, although they have no particular expertise and it has nothing to do with their jobs, they do have very strong opinions.

[Fumesucker]

3. Opinions it must be noted that have nothing whatsoever to do with their pecuniary interests

[Turbineguy]

4. Because it's better to continue the slaughter

than get a teabagger in the governor's mansion and then continue the slaughter.

[djean111]

5. Maybe he has higher aspirations?

"Taken together, they show Brown keeping a calculated arms’ length from legislative reformers while embracing powerful institutions and lobbies."
Sounds like Washington to me!