Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 27, 1994 TAG: 9401270165
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Cox News Service
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
"The president just touched on crime. He really did not get tough on crime," said Senate Republican leader Bob Dole.
Sen. Connie Mack of Florida said, "As always, Bill Clinton gave us Ronald Reagan rhetoric, but the details will be Jimmy Carter. We must have leadership from the president on the issue of crime, not a fainthearted reaction to public opinion polls," Mack said.
Although Clinton endorsed life sentences for third-time offenders, hiring 100,000 new police officers and a ban on assault weapons, Republicans said they would like him to urge the House to approve the $22.5 billion anti-crime bill passed by the Senate this past fall.
Clinton urged lawmakers to get tough on crime and pass the bill in his speech Tuesday night, but GOP leaders said they want him to be more specific in support of controversial provisions, including:
Constructing 10 new regional prisons to house 25,000 violent state criminals.
Requiring state prisoners to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences in order to be housed in a regional prison.
Mandatory minimum sentences for crimes involving the use of a firearm.
The death penalty for major drug dealers.
Federal prosecution of gang members.
Quicker deportation of alien terrorists.
Money for the anti-crime programs could come from a reduction in federal employees, or the "reinventing government" plan, which is projected to raise $20 billion in five years, said Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas.
If the House doesn't pass the crime bill by May 1, Gramm threatened to offer the provisions as an amendment to every bill in the Senate.
House liberals opposing the Senate bill say it is directed mainly at broadening the death penalty and increasing jail sentences instead of at the root causes of crime.
by CNB