WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of a criminal justice bill in the Senate say they have met the threshold set by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for getting a vote.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said he now has support for the legislation from more than half of the Republicans in the chamber. He projects that at least two-thirds of the Senate would vote for the bill.
Yet it remains unclear whether the legislation will get a vote this year. McConnell has made no public commitments other than to say he would count the votes and weigh the measure against other priorities.
The criminal justice bill would reduce mandatory sentences for certain drug crimes and give judges more discretion in sentencing.
The White House supports the bill.
