A top conservative columnist on Tuesday ripped GOP lawmakers, including in Florida, for passing soft-on-crime bills that garner huge Democratic support.
He also praised Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for vetoing these “left-wing jailbreak bills” and having a clear vision of preserving the GOP’s reputation as the party of law.
Writing for The Blaze, columnist Daniel Horowitz chided GOP lawmakers in Florida’s Legislature for backing bills that would have gone light on criminal penalties and threatened public safety.
Horowitz highlighted Senate Bill 1478 and House Bill 605 as evidence that Republicans are taking a misguided approach to some criminals.
In the news: Florida Gov. DeSantis Says California Gov. Newsom’s Flight Probe ‘Absurd’
According to Horowitz, SB 1478 would have prohibited judges from considering certain parts of a defendant’s previous record if violations of probation are resolved through an “alternative sanctioning program.” In short, it would have essentially excused previous crimes, based on the seriousness of the defendant’s violation of probation, when the defendant goes before a judge.
Horowitz pointed out that parole and probation violators commit most of the nation’s crimes, and so if those people get scooped up for another offense, the “low-level crimes committed by those who had their second chances and commit other crimes need to be part of the full picture presented to a judge.”
HB 605 would have allowed defendants to have both their juvenile record and adult offenses expunged from the record in certain cases. Florida law now allows for one or the other.
“By offering more expungement, it will take so much longer to lock up those who are indeed not first-time, nonviolent offenders, and they will have to commit so many more serious crimes before they are incapacitated,” Horowitz explained.
Although both bills overwhelmingly passed the Florida Legislature, DeSantis vetoed them both.
The governor did not explain his reasons.
But, Horowitz noted that both bills were supported by groups backed by the left-wing billionaire George Soros and the libertarian Koch brothers.
In the news: Florida Gov. DeSantis, Trump Weigh In On White House Cocaine News
“It’s truly frustrating how everyone seems to recognize the problems with easier bail, loose parole enforcement, weaker sentencing, and essentially no deterrent against violent repeat offenders, including juveniles, yet, when the rubber meets the legislative road, most Republicans still promote weak-on-crime laws rather than plugging the leaky criminal justice system,” Horowitz wrote.
“Every session, most red state legislatures continue to push for more leniencies at a time when they need to tighten up probation and bail rules, lengthen some sentences, and strengthen three-strikes-and-you’re-out laws. … Clearly, Republicans are lacking a leader in other states with a vision for law and order.”
“DeSantis, on the other hand, has consistently fought against jailbreak, which is why his promises on crime as a presidential candidate ring louder than the typical campaign bluster,” Horowitz added.
“Crime is the prototypical issue for which the GOP campaigns strong but fails to deliver results and often enacts the opposite policies,” Horowitz concluded.
“Once again, DeSantis is showing that he is in a class of his own when it comes to discernable policy outcomes. Where are the other governors?”
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter—signup for our free newsletter.
We can’t do this without your help; visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps