Graham urges GOP leadership to bring vote on criminal justice reform

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sunday that there’s enough bipartisan support to pass a criminal justice reform bill in the Senate if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will bring it up for a vote.

Graham said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he’s confident a criminal justice reform bill that President Trump has backed would receive 80 votes in the Senate, and would be a positive first step for the government in the wake of a contentious midterm election cycle.

{mosads}”Let’s start 2019 on a positive note,” Graham said. “I’m urging Sen. McConnell to bring the bill to the floor of the Senate. It would get 80 votes. Mr. President, pick up the phone and push the Republican leadership.”

“The Republicans are the problem here, not the Democrats,” he added.

Trump has voiced support for the legislation, which has been championed by his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner. However, some Republicans have voiced opposition to the bill, and McConnell has reportedly told the president there will not be time to vote on it before the end of the year.

Graham called the bill “the most important bipartisan piece of legislation in the Congress today.” 

The legislation would reduce lifetime mandatory minimum sentences after two prior felony drug convictions to at least 25 years; reduce minimum sentences after one prior conviction from 20 to 15 years; and make the Fair Sentencing Act retroactive.