One of the arguments that those opposed to criminal justice reform often claim is that violent crime is a concern, making it unwise to pass even the most basic of reforms to reduce recidivism. This is hypocritical on its face, simply because reducing recidivism by definition reduces crime rates by lowering the number of re-offenders. Nevertheless, opponents of criminal justice reform are ramping up their rhetoric on crime rates to oppose the FIRST STEP Act, H.R. 5682.

Last week, the House Judiciary Committee approved the Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person (FIRST STEP) Act, H.R. 5682, by a 25 to 5 vote. Four Democrats voted against the measure because the bill doesn’t have any sentencing reforms. Only one Republican voted against it. Approval by the committee sets the stage for a floor vote, likely in the coming weeks.

The House and Senate are in session this week.

The House and Senate are in session this week.

Saturday marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx. His work with Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto, and Das Kapital inspired communist uprisings in Russia, China, and several other countries. Despite the death and destruction under communist regimes over the past century, some are inexplicably still debating Marx’s legacy leading up to the anniversary of his birth.

Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) recently rolled out a proposal to create another new entitlement program, Medicare Part E. This plan would put the federal government in direct competition with private health insurance companies by creating the so-called “public option.”

Whenever Republicans run for office, they say they’re going to go to work to reduce spending and the size and scope of government. But when they arrive in Washington, to paraphrase Stephen Slivinski, many Republicans stop viewing Washington as a cesspool and treat it more like a hot tub. They get comfortable with Congress because they want to rise in the ranks of the conference, get a coveted committee like Appropriations, and work their way into committee chairmanship or a leadership position.

More than two months after being mentioned as a legislative priority in President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, the House Judiciary Committee will mark up the Prison Reform and Redemption Act, H.R. 3356, on Wednesday. FreedomWorks released its original letter of support for the bill in July 2017 and sent a revised letter on the amendment in the nature of a substitute that will be considered this week by the committee.

The issue of eminent domain is receiving renewed interest thanks to a new movie about Susette Kelo, whose property was taken by the City of New London, Connecticut to enhance the city’s tax base. The movie, Little Pink House, was recently released in select theaters across the country. Conservative columnist George Will wrote that the movie, which was directed by Courtney Balaker and co-produced by Ted Balaker, “will win the Oscar for best picture if Hollywood’s political preening contains even a scintilla of sincerity about speaking truth to power.”

The House and Senate are in session this week.