Senate Democrats Get Testy with Middletown Insider Blog Over Early Release Posts

I just had a couple of questions and a fact check on this recent blog entry:

http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/08/suzio-to-gov-malloy-stop-prematurely.html

I'm not sure which bill you are referring to when you say Sen. Bartolomeo voted to extend the risk reduction program.  I'd love to know the bill number?  In fact, she voted with the Republicans on Sen Markley's amendment to more or less end the program.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/AMD/S/2013SB-01160-R00SE-AMD.htm (Amendment Text)

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/VOTE/S/2013SV-00087-R00SB01160-SV.htm (Amendment vote tally)

If you could point me in the direction to the bill in question it would be much appreciated.  If not I assume you will edit the post to reflect the facts.

Also, for what it's worth, House Bill 6521 is a Public Health Bill regarding end of life medical treatment.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=6521&which_year=2013&SUBMIT1=Submit

Regards,

Adam

Adam Joseph
Director of Communications
Senate Democrats
860-240-8641 (office)
@CTSenateDems

http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/

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Dear Adam Joseph,

Our apologies Adam, we got the number of the Bill wrong. The bill in questioned  to continue to extend the privilege of early release of violent offenders is Bill 6581 (not 6521 as we did cite originally and have corrected) regarding those sentenced while still under 18 of violent crimes. 

However, we were correct in our opinion Bartolomeo has supported the continued release of some violent criminals.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=6581&which_year=2013&SUBMIT1.x=13&SUBMIT1.y=12

Bill 6581:" AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONNECTICUT SENTENCING COMMISSION REGARDING LENGTHY SENTENCES FOR CRIMES COMMITTED BY A CHILD OR YOUTH AND THE SENTENCING OF A CHILD OR YOUTH CONVICTED OF CERTAIN FELONY OFFENSES." 

Bill 6581 when on to become SB 1062. While in the legislature, Middletown representatives Rep. Paul Doyle (D) voted against the measure, Rep. Joe Serra (D) and Rep. Matt Lesser (D) for the measure.  SB 1062 was subject of public hearings this past session, and was tabled.

Also Adam, in Bartolomeo's own words taken from Senate testimony :"With regards to the two relevant bills before you today, I would like to register my opposition to Committee Bill 123, “An Act Repealing the Risk Reduction Credit Program.” While this bill would accomplish the goal of keeping dangerous criminals from participating, it simply goes too far." 

http://meriden.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/bartolomeo-testifies-against-early-release-program

To her credit, while she FALSELY tries to paint a picture of herself as the first public official to testify against the Risk Reduction Program when in fact her predecessor Senator Len Suzio first took up this fight, Senator Bartolomeo does provide some suggestions to the program, however does not  call for the ending of the program that releases violent criminals with good behavior.

Either vote to end giving these privileges to all violent convicts or not, it is not a "more or less end the program" issue as you state. If one is not against something, then logic says they are for or indifferent to it.  When SB 1062, which was tabled in May comes back for a final vote. Where does Senator Dante Bartolomeo stand after testify her in opposition  of Bill 123, which would stop early release of violent convicts all together?

If she does not call for the repeal of the Risk Reduction program for violent offenders, she in fact only offers amendments to the program.

Senator Joe Markley has gone on record as being opposed to the Risk Reduction program being available to ALL violent criminals, whether convicted before the age of 18 or not.

The article about Rep. Matt Lesser (D) supporting the early release of some violent criminals by voting in favor of Bill 6581, which then went onto become SB 1062, was pulled from the Middletown Patch shortly after its front page appearance on May 30th, 2013 but can still be seen on the East Hampton Patch pages:

http://easthampton-ct.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/connecticut-considering-early-prison-release-for-some-violent-criminals

We maintain our original opinions.

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