{"id":2266714,"date":"2024-06-13T09:06:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-13T13:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-democrats-squabble-over-poison-pills-in-anti-crime-laws\/"},"modified":"2024-06-13T09:10:43","modified_gmt":"2024-06-13T13:10:43","slug":"california-democrats-squabble-over-poison-pills-in-anti-crime-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-democrats-squabble-over-poison-pills-in-anti-crime-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"California Democrats clash over controversial elements in anti-crime legislation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-democrats-squabble-over-poison-pills-in-anti-crime-laws%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2266714&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>California Democrats have attached conditions\u2062 to a series of anti-crime bills that \u200cwould prevent them from becoming effective if a \u2062proposed reform of Proposition \u206347 passes in \u200cNovember. This proposed reform, supported by some as the \u201cHomelessness, Drug Addiction, and \u200bTheft Reduction Act,\u201d aims to modify the 2014 voter-approved\u2062 Prop. 47 which currently mandates that serial thefts\u200b under \u2064$950 and trafficking of certain drugs are charged as misdemeanors. The proposed changes would allow for felony charges under certain conditions and emphasize \u2062rehabilitation through \u200btreatment-mandated felonies, job training, and\u2064 other support\u2062 services, while continuing \u2064Prop. \u200c47\u2019s intention to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-democrats-block-bill-to-lock-up-repeat-child-sex-traffickers-prison-is-not-the-answer\/\" title=\"California Democrats reject bill to incarcerate repeat child sex traffickers, citing alternative solutions to address the issue.\">reduce prison populations<\/a>. However, these added &#8220;poison pills&#8221; or inoperability clauses have led \u2062to criticism from within the Democratic\u2062 Party, \u2063with\u200d some members \u2064withdrawing their support, accusing the move as mere &#8220;political posturing.&#8221;  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>(The Center Square) \u2013 California Democrats are adding \u201cpoison pills\u201d to block their package of anti-crime bills from taking effect if the newly <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov\/ccrov\/2024\/june\/24120jh.pdf\">ballot-qualified<\/a><\/strong> reform measure for Proposition 47 passes in November. Prominent Democrats have withdrawn their support for the anti-crime bills for the forceful addition of the poison pills, claiming the clauses are \u201cpolitical posturing.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/california\/article_4dbbd9be-bc93-11ee-b0d0-b3f8d20c7ee1.html\">measure<\/a><\/strong>, called the \u201cHomelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act\u201d by its proponents, would significantly reform Prop. 47, a 2014 voter-approved measure that required serial theft of values less than $950 per theft and trafficking of hard drugs to be charged as misdemeanors, not felonies. The reform measure would allow offenders with two prior misdemeanor theft convictions to be charged with a felony, regardless of the value of the stolen property, for third and subsequent charges, though judges would still be able to use diversion programs at their discretion. State prison would be on the table for offenders with four or more theft convictions. The measure would also allow multiple thefts to be combined in value to allow an individual to be charged with a felony for stealing more than $950 more in property \u2014 as reported by the Washington Post, one criminal was <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/sf\/national\/2015\/10\/10\/prop47\/\">caught<\/a><\/strong> using a calculator to make sure his theft was under the $950 felony limit. <\/p>\n<p>The measure would also allow for enhanced penalties when two or more offenders work together to steal $50,000 or more. The measure continues the emphasis of Prop. 47 on keeping individuals out of prison by creating a new class of crime called a \u201ctreatment-mandated felony,\u201d which would allow prosecutors to charge the crime to individuals accused of possessing \u201chard drugs\u201d after two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/man-whose-life-sentence-was-commuted-by-obama-arrested-on-attempted-murder-charges-police\/\" title=\"Obama commutation recipient arrested for attempted murder, say police.\">previous drug convictions<\/a> upon their third or subsequent offense. A convict who \u201csuccessfully completes drug and mental health treatment\u201d would have the treatment-mandated felony charge \u201cfully expunged\u201d and face \u201cno jail time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Should offenders refuse treatment, they would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-revokes-derek-chauvins-bail-sets-sentencing-hearing-for-eight-weeks\/\" title=\"Judge Revokes Derek Chauvin\u2019s Bail, Sets Sentencing Hearing For Eight Weeks\">serve jail time<\/a> for hard drug possession. Upon conviction for a second treatment-mandated felony, a judge would have the discretion to require jail time for hard drug possession. In addition to treatment, offenders would receive \u201cshelter, job training, and other services designed to break the cycle of addiction and homelessness.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The measure would expand the state\u2019s list of \u201chard drugs\u201d to include heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, but not psychedelics such as marijuana, lysergic acid (LSD), and psilocybin mushrooms. It additionally would allow for stronger penalties for hard drug dealers whose drugs kill or seriously injure a user. <\/p>\n<p>In response, Democratic Leaders announced they\u2019d be adding <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.courthousenews.com\/california-republicans-say-democrats-are-playing-political-games-with-crime-bills\/\">inoperability clauses<\/a><\/strong> to 12 anti-crime bills that will render them moot if the Prop. 47 reform measure passes, drawing rebuke from lawmakers across the political spectrum. Among other proposals, the bills would create a system for enhanced reporting of theft, enhance criminal penalties for theft, and create a new wobbler for breaking into a vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or another felony.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am removing my name as co-author immediately from two retail theft bills that will be amended to make them inoperable if voters pass the Proposition 47 reform measure this November,\u201d said State Sen Marie Alvarado-Gil in a statement. \u201cI oppose the amendments to these two bills, and I was not consulted about them prior. Let me be clear \u2013 I do support the Prop 47 reform initiative and believe voters have the right to vote on this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>California\u2019s entire Republican Congressional delegation came out against the amendments, noting bipartisan support for the Prop. 47 reform bill from Democratic mayors Todd Gloria of San Diego and London Breed of San Francisco. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is clear that the only purpose of this novel legislative maneuver is to equip opponents of the ballot initiative with a talking point \u2013 to be used on the campaign trail, and likely even on the ballot itself \u2013 to confuse voters and undermine the will of the people of California,\u201d <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepKiley\/status\/1800972991855226987\/photo\/1\">wrote<\/a><\/strong> the 10 members of Congress in a letter. \u201cThis tactic could be used by legislators to defeat any unwanted ballot initiative going forward, simply by picking a popular piece of existing legislation and stipulating that if the initiative passes, that legislation will be repealed. This will defeat the entire purpose of the initiative process, which is designed to give voters a direct say on issues affecting our state.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The Prop. 47 reform measure received 601,317 valid signatures and is sponsored by law enforcement groups and leading retailers such as Target and Walmart.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California Democrats are embedding &#8220;poison pills&#8221; in their anti-crime bills, potentially blocking their enactment if the Proposition 47 reform measure passes in November. Prominent Democrats have retracted support for these bills, criticizing the inclusion of these clauses as politically motivated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2266715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24010797880197.jpg.optimal.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2266714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24010797880197.jpg.optimal.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2266714"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266714\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2266715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2266714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2266714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2266714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}