Press Release

"Last month, Democratic Senate Public Safety Committee Chair Gloria Romero issued an edict that no bill could be moved if it potentially increases prison populations.  'Gloria Romero said she would hold until 2008 all bills in the Senate Public Safety Committee that she said could add to overcrowded prisons.  Three bills were placed on hold, including one that would have added a five-year sentence enhancement for anyone convicted of kidnapping or some sex offense while impersonating a police officer.'

"While the response from Sen. Romero would seem rather egregious - stopping all bills that might actually keep more criminals off the streets, it still pales in comparison to her actions today in Public Safety Committee.

"In the Public Safety Committee today, one bill after another was tabled until next year, except for one notable exception, Sen. Romero's sentencing commission bill.

"Sen. Romero stated, 'The bill has been deemed non-Roca [Receivership, Overcrowding, Crisis, and Aggravation] so it's not something that we imagine to be impacting the overcrowding crisis this year.'

"And later on, in the same Committee, when Sen. Romero was asked how does this sentencing commission bill impact sentences, Romero responded, 'Some may have to be increased.  Some may have to be decreased.  Some may be modified.'  

"So which one is it?

"This hypocrisy and doublespeak from the Democrat Party is nothing new to Californians, who have become accustomed to hearing the majority party talk 'tough on crime' while doing little or nothing to solve the problems pervading our streets."

Hector M. Barajas, Communications Director, California Republican Party  

Sen. Romero Defers Prison Bills Until 2008
"Sen. Gloria Romero said she would hold until 2008 all bills in the Senate Public Safety Committee that she said could add to overcrowded prisons. Three bills were placed on hold, including one that would have added a five-year sentence enhancement for anyone convicted of kidnapping or some sex offense while impersonating a police officer." (Mark Martin, Greg Lucas, "Senate Panel Holds Bills That Would Further Crowd Prisoners," San Francisco Chronicle, 3/28/07)

Public Safety Committee: 4/10/07
Sen. Romero:

• "The bill has been deemed non-Roca so it's not something that we imagine to be impacting the overcrowding crisis this year."
• "Some may have to be increased.  Some may have to be decreased.  Some may be modified." 
  

Sentences: Increased, Decreased, And Some May Be Modified
"Romero said the bill was not designed as an early-release mechanism to buy time with federal judges who are primed to set prison population caps in the state.  'This is to review sentences,' Romero said.  'Some may have to be increased.  Some may be decreased.  Some may be modified.  The sentencing commission isn't about length of term.  It's about the right term, the right time for the right crime, based on risk assessment."  (Andy Furillo, "Dems Would Empower Sentencing Commission," Sacramento Bee, 3/15/07)

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