The office of Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), met with a group which receives donations from George Soros, and is opposed to measures that would curb America’s crime crisis.
Celeste Trusty (PA State Director for Families Against Mandatory Minimums Foundation, FAMM) met with Casey last week at the lobbying day of the organization.
Lobbying is a term used by political groups to inform elected officials of their opinions on certain issues.
FAMM supports policies that are softer on crime, such as ending the mandatory minimum sentence, raising the threshold for crack cocaine sales, and removing Fentanyl from Schedule I.
The group wrote about their opposition to mandatory minimums.
The use of mandatory minimum sentences is not necessary for ensuring sufficient punishment. In fact, they can lead to unjust and excessive results which make us less secure. The elimination of mandatory minimum sentences doesn’t mean people won’t be punished or jailed. It means that courts will no longer have to imprison indiscriminately without taking into consideration factors that are important. Mandatory minimum sentences force courts to imprison people even when it is not necessary to protect the public or hold them in prison beyond the point where they are a danger. Mandatory minimum sentences prevent courts from using more cost-effective alternatives, such as drug or mental health treatment court programs. By wasting prison resources on the wrong individuals, mandatory minimum sentences put the public at risk.
FAMM is seeking to equalize the thresholds for crack cocaine and powder cocaine. They claim that the disparity in the thresholds between the two drugs is “racially-discriminatory.”
Crack cocaine and Powder cocaine are both forms of the drug. Under federal law, we still impose the exact same penalties on the possession of a small amount of crack cocaine as well as a large amount of powder cocaine. It is much easier to trigger the mandatory minimum when selling crack cocaine as opposed to powder cocaine. This disparity does not reflect science and is racially biased. Congress should eliminate this disparity and retroactively apply the reform so that all people receive fair sentences.
FAMM opposes H.R. H.R. 467, The HALT Fentanyl Act is a bill which would “permanently list fentanyl-related substances on Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act” (meaning they have a high abuse potential and no accepted medical use).
The HALT Fentanyl act was passed by the House on a strong, bipartisan basis in late May.
FAMM receives funding also from George Soros.
FAMM, a nonpartisan group, has been successful in bringing together people of different ideologies on prison reform and sentencing. A press release from 2016, for instance, states that it receives funding both from the Koch Brothers as well as George Soros.
Casey’s Office met with FAMM in Philadelphia as crime has increased.
David McCormick – a possible Republican Senate candidate – slammed Casey when he announced his reelection bid in April. McCormick said Casey had done “nothing” to combat crime.
He said:
Bob Casey always votes in favor of Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden’s failed, far-left agenda. Casey’s support of open borders has led to the deaths of 5,000 Pennsylvanians from fentanyl alone in 2020. Casey’s leftist energy policies have cost Pennsylvania thousands of jobs, despite the fact that Pennsylvania is the nation’s second largest gas producer. Casey, despite Philadelphia having one of the nation’s highest murder rates, has not done anything to combat crime. Instead he has supported dangerous policies. Voting for Casey means voting for Biden and Schumer. He’s an insider in Washington and is not the leader that we can rely on to provide a better future for this great Commonwealth.
