OnTheIssuesLogo

Bruce Braley on Crime

Democrat

 


Voted YES on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes.

Congressional Summary:Adopts the definition of "hate crime" as set forth in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994: a crime in which the defendant intentionally selects a victim, or in the case of a property crime, the property that is the object of the crime, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of any person. Provides technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of hate crimes, including financial grant awards.

Proponent's argument to vote Yes:Rep. JOHN CONYERS (D, MI-14):This bill expands existing Federal hate crimes law to groups who are well-known targets for bias-based violence--they are sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability. These crimes of violence are directed not just at those who are directly attacked; they are targeting the entire group with the threat of violence.

Opponent's argument to vote No:Rep. LAMAR SMITH (R, TX-21): Every year thousands of violent crimes are committed out of hate, but just as many violent crimes, if not more, are motivated by something other than hate--greed, jealousy, desperation or revenge, just to name a few. An individual's motivation for committing a violent crime is usually complex and often speculative. Every violent crime is deplorable, regardless of its motivation. That's why all violent crimes should be vigorously prosecuted. Unfortunately, this bill undermines one of the most basic principles of our criminal justice system--equal justice for all. Under this bill, justice will no longer be equal. Justice will now depend on the race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or other protected status of the victim. It will allow different penalties to be imposed for the same crime. This is the real injustice.

Reference: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act; Bill HR.1913 ; vote number 2009-H223 on Apr 2, 2009

Voted YES on expanding services for offenders' re-entry into society.

H.R.1593: Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention or the Second Chance Act (Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass). To reauthorize the grant program for reentry of offenders into the community in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, and to improve reentry planning and implementation.

Proponents support voting YES because:

Rep. CONYERS: Some 650,000 men and women are leaving the Federal and State prisons each year. While the vast majority of the prisoners are committed to abiding by the law and becoming productive members of society, they often encounter the same pressures & temptations that they faced before prison. More than two-thirds of them are arrested for new crimes within 3 years of their release. This exacts a terrible cost in financial terms as well as in human terms. The Second Chance Act will help provide these men and women with the training, counseling and other support needed to help them obtain & hold steady jobs; to kick their drug and alcohol habits; rebuild their families; and deal with the many other challenges that they face in their efforts to successfully rejoin society.

Opponents recommend voting NO because:

Rep. GOHMERT: The programs that are sought to be renewed are ones we don't have information on how successful they were. I can tell you from my days as a judge, there was some anecdotal evidence that it looked like faith-based programs did a better job of dramatically reducing recidivism. In addition:

Reference: Second Chance Act; Bill HR1593 ; vote number 2007-1083 on Nov 13, 2007

Harsher sentencing for "pill mill" operators.

Braley signed Pill Mill Crackdown Act

    The Pill Mill Crackdown Act of 2011: Amends the Controlled Substances Act to:
  1. double the term of imprisonment and triple the fine for the prohibited distribution of a schedule II or schedule III controlled substance by the operator of a pill mill,
  2. increase the penalties for such operator distribution of a controlled substance to a person under age 21 from twice to thrice the maximum punishment or term of supervised release authorized, and
  3. exclude such operator distribution from the applicability of provisions authorizing an alternative fine of not more than twice the gross profits or other proceeds derived by a defendant from a drug offense.
      Expresses the sense of Congress that such prohibited operator distribution is a violation for which certain property is subject to forfeiture.
      • Requires the proceeds from disposition of such property to be used for controlled substance monitoring programs in the states and for block grants to states for community mental health services and for prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
      • Changes the classification of specified quantities of dihydrocodeinone from a schedule III to a schedule II controlled substance.
      Source: H.R.1065 11-HR1065 on Mar 14, 2011

      Rated 92% by the NAPO, indicating a tough-on-crime stance.

      Braley scores 92% by the NAPO on crime & police issues

      Ratings by the National Association of Police Organizations indicate support or opposition to issues of importance to police and crime. The organization's self-description: "The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of police units and associations from across the United States. NAPO was organized for the purpose of advancing the interests of America's law enforcement officers through legislative advocacy, political action, and education.

      "Increasingly, the rights and interests of law enforcement officers have been the subject of legislative, executive, and judicial action in the nation’s capital. NAPO works to influence the course of national affairs where law enforcement interests are concerned. The following list includes examples of NAPO’s accomplishments:

      • Enactment of the Fair Sentencing Act
      • Enactment of the National AMBER Alert Act
      • Enactment of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
      • Enactment of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
      • Enactment of the Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act (Right to Carry Legislation)

      VoteMatch scoring for the NAPO ratings is as follows:

      • 0%-50%: soft on crime and police issues;
      • 50%-75%: mixed record on crime and police issues;
      • 75%-100%: tough on crime and police issues.
      Source: NAPO ratings on Congress and politicians 2014_NAPO on Dec 31, 2014

      Other candidates on Crime: Bruce Braley on other issues:
      IA Gubernatorial:
      Andy McGuire
      Chet Culver
      Jack Hatch
      Kim Reynolds
      Nate Boulton
      Rich Leopold
      Terry Branstad
      Tom Hoefling
      IA Senatorial:
      Doug Butzier
      Joni Ernst
      Matthew Whitaker
      Sam Clovis

      IA politicians
      IA Archives

      Retiring in 2014 election:
      GA:Chambliss(R)
      IA:Harkin(D)
      MI:Levin(D)
      MT:Baucus(D)
      NE:Johanns(R)
      SD:Johnson(D)
      WV:Rockefeller(D)

      Retired as of Jan. 2013:
      AZ:Kyl(R)
      CT:Lieberman(D)
      HI:Akaka(D)
      ND:Conrad(D)
      NM:Bingaman(D)
      TX:Hutchison(R)
      VA:Webb(D)
      WI:Kohl(D)
      Senate races 2017-8:
      AL: Strange(R) ; no opponent yet
      AZ: Flake(R) vs. Ward(R)
      CA: Feinstein(D) vs. Eisen(D) vs. Sanchez?(D) vs. Garcetti?(D)
      CT: Murphy(D) ; no opponent yet
      DE: Carper(D) vs. Biden?(D) vs. Markell?(D)
      FL: Nelson(D) vs. DeSantis(R) vs. Jolly(R) vs. Lopez-Cantera(R)
      HI: Hirono(D) ; no opponent yet
      IN: Donnelly(D) vs. Hurt(R)
      MA: Warren(D) vs. Ayyadurai(R)
      MD: Cardin(D) ; no opponent yet
      ME: King(I) vs. LePage?(R)
      MI: Stabenow(D) vs. Bouchard?(R)
      MN: Klobuchar(D) vs. Paulsen?(R)
      MO: McCaskill(D) vs. Kinder?(R)
      MS: Wicker(R) vs. McDaniel?(R)
      MT: Tester(D) vs. Racicot?(R)

      ND: Heitkamp(D) vs. Becker?(R)
      NE: Fischer(R) ; no opponent yet
      NJ: Menendez(D) vs. Chiesa(R) vs. Codey?(D) vs. Chiesa?(R)
      NM: Heinrich(D) vs. Sanchez(R)
      NV: Heller(R) vs. Sandoval?(R)
      NY: Gillibrand(D) vs. Kennedy?(D)
      OH: Brown(D) vs. Mandel(R)
      PA: Casey(D) vs. Saccone(R)
      RI: Whitehouse(D) ; no opponent yet
      TN: Corker(R) vs. Crim(I)
      TX: Cruz(R) vs. Bush?(R)
      UT: Hatch(R) vs. McMullin?(R) vs. Romney?(R)
      VT: Sanders(I) vs. Giordano(D)
      VA: Kaine(D) vs. Cuccinelli?(R) vs. Fiorina?(R)
      WA: Cantwell(D) ; no opponent yet
      WV: Manchin(D) vs. Raese(R) vs. Goodwin?(R)
      WI: Baldwin(D) vs. Grothman?(R) vs. Gallagher?(R)
      WY: Barrasso(R) ; no opponent yet
      Abortion
      Budget/Economy
      Civil Rights
      Corporations
      Crime
      Drugs
      Education
      Energy/Oil
      Environment
      Families
      Foreign Policy
      Free Trade
      Govt. Reform
      Gun Control
      Health Care
      Homeland Security
      Immigration
      Jobs
      Principles
      Social Security
      Tax Reform
      Technology
      War/Peace
      Welfare

      Other Senators
      Senate Votes (analysis)
      Bill Sponsorships
      Affiliations
      Policy Reports
      Group Ratings

      Contact info:
      Fax Number:
      202-225-9129
      Mailing Address:
      Longworth HOB 1019, Washington, DC 20515
      Phone number:
      (202) 225-2911





      Page last updated: Aug 23, 2017