To: president@whitehouse.gov (Bill Clinton)
From: mkb4@cornell.edu (Matthew Belmonte)
Subject: vacancies on federal Sentencing Commission

The Federal Sentencing Commission since 1992 has had only three full
commissioners of its complement of seven. Until these vacancies are filled, a
thorough look at sentencing reform, and at drug sentencing reform in
particular, will be impossible. Serious disagreement exists as to the wisdom
and fairness of current mandatory minimum drug sentences. For example,
penalties for crack cocaine, most of whose abusers are African-American, are
much harsher than penalties for powder cocaine, whose abusers are mostly white.
I urge you and Attorney General Reno to see to it that the Sentencing
Commission becomes fully constituted, so that these important questions can
receive due consideration.