January 29, 2008

Assembly vote 'disappears'

The Assembly, in an unusual turn of events, erased all traces that it voted today to kill a controversial cocaine bill.

The tally immediately was expunged, ensuring that it can't be used by challengers in this year's elections.

For the curious, however, the final vote was 37-33 -- four short of the number needed for passage.

The contested measure, Assembly Bill 337, would have reduced criminal penalties for possessing crack cocaine or purchasing it for the purpose of sale. It would have increased similar penalties for powder cocaine.

Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, a Compton Democrat who proposed the bill, has argued for years that stiffer penalties for crack than powder cocaine disproportionately affects African Americans and low-income groups. His bill would have equalized the penalties.

No Republican voted for AB 337.

Most Democrats supported the bill. Those voting against it were Juan Arambula, Fresno; Mike Feuer, Los Angeles; Lloyd Levine, Van Nuys; Ted Lieu, Torrance; and Lois Wolk, Davis.

Five Democrats did not vote: Cathleen Galgiani, Stockton; Betty Karnette, Long Beach; Pedro Nava, Santa Barbara; Ira Ruskin, Redwood City; and Nell Soto, Pomona.

Minutes after AB 337 died, Majority Floor Leader Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, moved to expunge the vote.

Her motion passed, 46-28.

Posted by Jim Sanders on January 29, 2008 5:13 PM