Action Alert

Dear friends,

Thanks so much for your emails and phone calls to the U.S. Senate! We're very close to creating an independent commission to urge Congress and President Obama to reduce incarceration and improve public safety. This commission is a great opportunity to put the failed war on drugs on trial. I'm optimistic we can finally make this happen, but we need your help again.

Please contact your Senators today before Congress adjourns for the year. Tell them to pressure Senate leadership to pass the National Criminal Justice Commission Act.

If we can get this commission established, we hope to force Congress and the President to consider important ideas like making marijuana legal, treating drug use as a health issue instead of a criminal justice issue, and eliminating failed drug war programs that waste taxpayer money.

Senator Jim Webb (D-Va) and others have a plan to pass the bill, but in order for the plan to work we need to show enormous support. The best thing you can do is email your Senators. And then forward this email to friends and family.Please contact your Senators now and help pass this critical legislation. Together we can march this bill over the finish line. We're very close.

Sincerely,

Bill Piper
Director, Office of National Affairs
Drug Policy Alliance

Dear friends,

TODAY - Tuesday, November 16 - is National Call-In Day:  If you are concerned about America's incarceration problem, please take a few minutes to call key senators who are in a position to do something about it.  Tell Senate leadership to support the National Criminal Justice Commission Act!

In 2009, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, S. 714 and H.R. 5143, which will create a bipartisan commission to complete a comprehensive review of the national criminal justice system, identify effective criminal justice policies and make recommendations for much-needed reform.
The House of Representatives and the Senate Judiciary Committee have passed the bill, and 39 senators have co-sponsored it, but this important legislation still awaits final passage during the last few weeks of the Congressional session.  If the National Criminal Justice Commission Act does not pass now, the whole process will have to be repeated in 2011.

LEAP believes this bill will help us achieve our goal of legalization and regulation, as Senator Webb has said that discussing the legalization of drugs should be on the table for the commission.  Drug prohibition directly impacts the problem of prison overcrowding by incarcerating nonviolent offenders, and America has the highest incarceration rate in the world.  As a supporter of LEAP, please urge Senate leadership to pass this important legislation!

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please call the following Senators TODAY, November 16, to ask them to prioritize and support Senate passage of the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, S. 714:

--Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), 202-224-3542

--Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), 202-224-3135

--YOUR Senate representatives.  To find contact information for the Senators representing your state, please call 202-224-3121

TALKING POINTS:

"I am calling to ask Senator _________ to prioritize and support immediate Senate passage of S. 714, the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, because the proposed commission would conduct a comprehensive national review of the efficacy of criminal justice policies in the United States and offer recommendations for reform that would improve public safety, governement accountability, cost effectiveness, and overall fairness in the implementation of the criminal justice system."

Thank you for your support of this important effort!

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We need help growing our all-encompassing movement of citizens who want to end the failed "war on drugs," so please invite your family and friends to learn about LEAP.

Today, NOVEMBER 16, 2010:

Call-in Day to Support SENATE PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL criminal justice commission act

BACKGROUND INFO:

In 2009, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, legislation that would create a bipartisan Commission to review and identify effective criminal justice policies and make recommendations for reform. The House of Representatives and Senate Judiciary Committee have reviewed and favorably passed the bill, which has 39 Senate cosponsors.  The bill is awaiting final passage by the Senate during these last few weeks of the Congressional session.  If the National Criminal Justice Commission Act does not pass this year, the legislation must be reintroduced and advance through both chambers of Congress again in 2011.  Please help us urge the Senate to prioritize and pass this important legislation as soon as possible!

ACTION NEEDED:

Today, please call the following Senators to ask them to prioritize and support Senate passageof the House-passed National Criminal Justice Commission Act, H.R. 5143/S. 714, as soon as possible:

·         Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid(D-NV), 202-224-3542

·         Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell(R-KY), 202-224-3135

MESSAGE:

I am calling to ask the Senator to prioritize and support immediate Senate passage of the House-passed National Criminal Justice Commission Act, H.R. 5143/S. 714, because:

·         Having a transparent and bipartisan Commission review and identify effective criminal justice policies would increase public safety.

·         The increase in incarceration over the past twenty years has stretched the system beyond its limits. These high costs to taxpayers are unsustainable, especially during these tough economic times.

·         The proposed commission would conduct a comprehensive national review – not audits of individual state systems – and would issue recommendations – not mandates – for consideration. 

If you have any questions, please contact Kara Gotsch at [email protected]. Thank you so much for your help!

PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL ALONG TO YOUR FRIENDS!

Dear friends,

Today's the day.

This is our best chance to get Congress and President Obama to establish an important commission that could provide recommendations on how to reform our marijuana laws, as well as other criminal justice issues.

The Senate is considering a bill that would establish a national commission to make recommendations on improving the criminal justice system -- but Congress is dragging its feet.  They need to hear from reformers around the country in support of this bill. Send a message to Senate leadership now!

This bill has already passed the House. It has also passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. All we need is for Senate Leadership to bring it to the floor for a final vote. We’ve got the bill to the ten yard line, but we need you to score the touchdown. Please take just a few minutes today to contact Senate Leadership and tell them to pass the National Criminal Justice Commission Act this week.

This is our last chance this year to pass this important reform bill. Please take action and forward this email to your friends and family.

Sincerely,

Bill Piper
Director, Office of National Affairs
Drug Policy Alliance

Dear friends,

Recently, in a letter to former DEA administrators, Attorney General Eric Holder said:

"We will vigorously enforce the [federal law] against those individuals and organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use, even if such activities are permitted under state law."

This carefully-timed statement is an attempt to take the steam out of the Prop. 19 movement. But the fact of the matter is states can decide their own marijuana laws, and if Proposition 19 passes it will effectively legalize marijuana in California.

Write Attorney General Eric Holder today and tell him to stay out of the Prop. 19 debate and respect voters' choices!

Polls continue to show Proposition 19 at about even odds of passing, and thanks to the help of supporters like you, we've been able to work with the "Yes on 19" campaign to launch a significant TV and online ad campaign as well as make thousands of calls to California voters and raise money to get out the vote. It's this sort of activism that will tip the scales on Election Day.

With only six days left until Californians take to the polls, we can't let empty threats stop our momentum. Send a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder and tell him that marijuana legalization is an issue states must decide for themselves!

Back in 1996, the federal government said the medical marijuana initiative in California was a symbolic gesture at most because they would continue to criminalize all marijuana use. Now, fourteen other states and the District of Columbia have functioning medical marijuana laws. It was politically-motivated saber rattling then -- just as Attorney General Holder's statement is today.

Let's put sound policy before petty politics. Write Attorney General Holder today!

Sincerely,

Stephen Gutwillig
State Director, California
Drug Policy Action