Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa), one of the key supporters of the criminal justice proposal currently stalled in the Senate, said in a Sunday interview that she was "willing to look at" possible changes to the bill.
Appearing on CNN's State of the Union, Ernst suggested a receptivity to feedback on the bill raised by "a number of organizations," which may include law enforcement leaders who have been critical of the FIRST STEP Act.
Dana Bash, in introducing the segment, noted that Ernst "support[s] the bipartisan legislation that would lighten some prison sentences for non-violent drug crimes." Indeed, Ernst is one of a handful of Republican senators to publicly join President Donald Trump in supporting the bill.
Supporters have pushed for a floor vote on FIRST STEP in the lame duck session, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has demurred; the New York Times previously reported that he does not expect to hold a vote on it prior to the beginning of the new session next year.
"It doesn't look like your Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, is planning to bring this up during the lame duck session. Should he?" Bash asked.
"I would love to see this come forward," Ernst said.
She then, without naming names, noted that there has been subsequent input on the bill's merits, and indicated that she was open to possible future amendments prior to final passage.
"There are a number of organizations that have provided some feedback, and I certainly am willing to look at any textual changes that might occur to the bill," Ernst said. "I think we need to involve as many voices as possible."
Indeed, despite its popularity in the mainstream media, FIRST STEP has had more than its share of critics.
Major law enforcement organizations—representing sheriffs, assistant U.S. attorneys, narcotics enforcement officers, and others—have made clear their skepticism of, and even outright opposition to, the bill. Major concerns include the number of offenders the bill excludes from receipt of credits towards early pre-custody release—too few, in the eyes of opponents—and its implementation of several sentencing reforms which could put dangerous criminals back on the street.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), who has been FIRST STEP's most vocal opponent in the Senate, has expressed his intention to introduce amendments addressing some of law enforcement's most significant concerns. Ernst said that she "would love to see more support" for the bill, possibly indicating that she hoped to bring Cotton and other, more stoic, holdouts on board.
"I am excited about the opportunity to see the FIRST STEP Act move forward through the Senate. I would love to see more support, if there's a way that we can accomplish that and get it done in the lame duck, that's great. If not, we'll drive on in the new Congress," Ernst said.