Skip to main content

BPC’s Grumet: Sentencing Proposal Shows Unity Achievable on Tough Issues

Washington, D.C. – Bipartisan Policy Center President Jason Grumet applauded Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA), Richard Durbin (D-IL.), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), and all those who joined from across the political spectrum on an effort to overhaul criminal justice and sentencing legislation.

“Twenty years ago, elected officials of every political stripe competed for the impression that they were tough on crime. It is encouraging to see both parties now collaborating to address the unintended consequences of these policies,” Grumet said.

“While there remain important and legitimate differences between parties on a myriad of policy challenges, for too long some have decried collaboration as weakness and lauded rigidity as strength. The process here demonstrates that it is possible for Congress to work through tough issues without either side having to compromise core principles. From immigration reform to improving the tax code to strengthening our infrastructure and cyber defenses, there is a way forward if there is the will,” Grumet said.

He also congratulated organizations on the left and right for transcending the rancor that dominates so many policy debates and working together on this shared agenda. “The criminal justice measure along with recent bipartisan progress in education reform, FDA reform, trade, and the Medicare ‘doc fix,’ demonstrate the type of leadership America deserves,” Grumet said.

Read Next