Gov. Patrick open to signing ‘three-strikes’ crime bill, but does not commit
Governor Deval Patrick signaled he may be open to signing a high profile crime bill if lawmakers agree to make changes next year.
At the same time, Patrick said he had made no final decision about the bill, which is currently on his desk.
“It’s a good bill. It’s not a great bill,’’ Patrick told State House reporters, just before entering a meeting with leaders of the House and Senate. “There’s a lot of work that has not yet been done, and I’m hoping that I can get a commitment from the leadership, a commitment to come back and do some of it at the beginning of the next session.’’
The bill approved by lawmakers last week would reduce mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, a Patrick priority, while making many repeat violent offenders ineligible for parole under a much-debated “three-strikes’’ provision.
The law has drawn wide support among prosecutors, victims’ families and the Legislature, where lawmakers have responded to public outcry and are eager to look tough-on-crime during an election year. But it has been heavily criticized by black and Hispanic lawmakers, who say it will add to an incarceration crisis in their communities.
Patrick echoed some critics’ concerns today, without disparaging the overall thrust of the bill.
“I do wish that this bill had retained judicial discretion in some cases, and I need to reflect on what I want to do with that,’’ he said.
When asked directly if his comments meant that he planned to sign the bill, rather than amend it or veto it, Patrick demurred.
“It means I’m reflecting on what I’m going to do,’’ he said.
After the governor spoke, his aides reaffirmed that Patrick — who has until Sunday to sign, amend, or veto the bill — has not made up his mind.
Patrick also made another push for a bill, still the subject of House-Senate negotiations, that is intended to curb the rising cost of health care. It has been a priority on Beacon Hill, where the formal lawmaking session ends July 31.
“It won’t be the final word, but its an important step,’’ Patrick said. “It’s important we close out soon and, given the late hour of the session, that they get me something I can sign, because there isn’t going to be a lot of time for the backing and forthing that sometimes happens.’’
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