USSC speaks out against H.R. 1528

Late yesterday I wondered in this post about when we would hear from the US Sentencing Commission concerning the Booker fix and drug sentencing provisions of H.R. 1528 (basics here, commentary here and here and here).  I am very pleased to see that just posted on the USSC’s website, and available at this link, is an effective and forceful letter addressed to the House Judiciary Committee regarding H.R. 1528, dated April 19 and signed by all the USSC Commissioners.

This letter from the USSC speaks out against a number of the drug sentencing provision of H.R. 1528, and also assails the Booker fix provisions for its “hasty, piecemeal” response to post-Booker issues.  Among other good insights, the USSC letter suggests it would be wise to have “additional hearings on the specific sentencing provisions of H.R. 1528 and the state of federal sentencing generally” before enacting any legislation in response to Booker.  Kudos to the USSC for getting out in front of this issue.