Yesterday, showed exactly why it is hard to get things done in Sacramento . Senate Bill 399 would overturn a voter approved initiative and allow the state to re-sentence violent juveniles that have been sentenced to life without parole. Needless to say this has been controversial. As it came to the floor of the Assembly, it was clear the bill didn’t have the votes to pass.

This particular piece of bad legislation has had so many lives I have nearly lost count.  I first encountered this public safety nightmare in 2009 when it came before the Assembly Public Safety Committee of which I am vice chair.  At that time the committee believed SB 399 was a bad idea and it did not garner the votes to pass.

Fast forward to January 2010 during a month when the legislature is focused on getting two year bills out of their house of origin and anomaly appeared on the Assembly Public Safety agenda, SB 399, a Senate bill.  Apparently the make up of the committee suited the author better and he didn’t what to risk another shake up in such favorable membership. 

We took our first floor vote on SB 399 on August 16, 2010 the final tally 34 Ayes to 30 Noes with two Democrats and one Independent voting no.  Reconsideration is granted.

The second time the full Assembly votes on SB 399, August 24, 2010, the bill managed to pull in and additional eight no votes, failing 34-38.  Reconsideration is granted.

Yesterday was the third and, thankfully, final time SB 399 came up for a vote before our house.  The roll is held open for a full forty-five minutes while the author and his allies attempt to beg, plead, cajole and strong arm support for a bill that will give convicted first degree murderers a chance at to walk out of prison early.  Finally, after all this high drama the bill failed at 9:45 pm on the second to the last day of session with 33 votes in support and 38 votes in opposition.  

In Sacramento , somehow, this is considered a good use of legislative time and resources. 

SB 399 had a fair hearing, in fact it had several, and the members of this house said, “No,” to this terrible and dangerous idea.  Now it needs to stay dead.    

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.