The last issue of The Activist Guide described how vacancies on the U.S. Sentencing Commission -- the body responsible for enacting amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines -- had resulted in the commission not voting on a number of sensible proposals, including amendments submitted by Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) to reduce penalties for crack cocaine and certain marijuana cultivation offenses. According to FAMM, President Clinton has nominated four judges to fill the vacancies, and Congress is likely to approve these nominations in October or November. All four of the nominees are opposed to mandatory minimum sentencing, so it is hoped that they will take a progressive view on the sentencing guidelines as well.

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