The New Senate Judiciary Committee Lineup

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2006
Posted on Tue Nov 14, 2006 at 08:35:00 PM EST
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From Sen. Harry Reid's office, here is the 2007 lineup of Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee members:

CHAIR: Leahy Kennedy
Biden
Kohl
Feinstein
Feingold
Schumer
Durbin
Cardin
Whitehouse

The new members are Ben Cardin of Maryland and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

I can't say I'm thrilled about Whitehouse. He's a former U.S. Attorney (appointed by Clinton) and state Attorney General, in other words, a law and order guy. He's strong on gun control and prosecuting gang members.

Cardin has a long history in the House of supporting the Innocence Protection Act and mandatory DNA testing for death row inmates and opposing bills calling for more prosecution of juveniles. He also voted for increased funding for alternative sentences over prisons.

On the other hand, he voted to curtail death penalty appeals and habeas rights for death row inmates. He also voted against a bill that would have substituted life in prison without parole for the death penalty. Still, I'd say he's a progressive.

If anyone has anything positive to say about Whitehouse, I'll be glad to listen.

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The New Senate Judiciary Committee Lineup | 5 comments (5 topical)

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gee, i'm not sure (none / 0) (#1)
by cpinva on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 12:38:32 AM EST

what's wrong with being strong on gun control, and going after gang members? someone care to enlighten me?

: Well... (none / 0) (#2)
by Edger on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 02:53:12 AM EST

N...nothing, if it's only half the coin - the other half being positive reinforcement with social programs to create ooportunities and help alleviate the poverty in the gangs 'turf', i.e. try to remove the incentive to join the gangs with offsetting carrots to the stick of law enforcement?

I'm assuming that's just an awkward juxtaposition (none / 0) (#3)
by Deconstructionist on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 07:23:22 AM EST

and she's not thrilled with Whitehouse because he's a former U.S.Attorney and AG with a record of being pro-law enforcement and she isn't trying to say enforcing gun laws and prosecuting gang members are bad things.

ok, i think i have it (none / 0) (#4)
by cpinva on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 10:21:15 AM EST

thanks edger and decon, both of you make valid points. nowhere in the post does jeralyn make any reference to whether or not offsetting social programs were part of his deal, and i'm hard pressed to believe she's alergic to him solely because he's a former A.G., since she's made positive comments about other A.G.'s.

geez, if it wasn't for this damn work, i'd have time to research this properly! :)

: Re: damn work ;-) (none / 0) (#5)
by Edger on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 10:41:53 AM EST

ooportunities
Well, I alway figgered ooportunities mus' be good thangs. Know?