By Ken Stickney

ken.stickney@panews.com

John Cornyn suggests future prison reform around the country may bear a familiar look for Texans.

The U.S. senator, R-Texas, said the First Step Act, legislation he’s promoted in Washington, is largely based on prison reform that occurred here during Gov. Rick Perry’s administration.

That legislation sailed through the Senate 87-12 on Tuesday and is expected to clear the House easily.

Ultimately, he said, the First Step Act will make America “smart on crime,” not just “tough on crime” — President Trump, too, has adopted that language — and will reduce the need for prison space while saving taxpayer money.

In a conference call with Texas reporters Wednesday, Cornyn, who has been an outspoken reform advocate, said the rest of the country will appreciate “the benefits of the Texas experience.”

Cornyn, a former judge, state Supreme Court justice and attorney general, said the roots of the Texas experience began in 2007, when the state faced major decisions about addressing prison space while facing a $2 billion budget increase.

Texas made headway by establishing drug courts to handle non-violent drug offenders and sought less-restrictive but effective penalties. Eventually, the state saved money by measures such as closing prisons and reducing recidivism.

Cornyn said the reform effort began in 2013 when he introduced his prison reform legislation, which has been amended and transformed numerous times over the past five years. What passed Tuesday had bipartisan support — Cornyn had worked on the legislation initially with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. — and like much major legislation, underwent significant change.

But in response to a question from The Port Arthur News, Cornyn said he got what he sought from the beginning with the legislation, which was aimed at preparing low-risk, non-violent offenders for re-entry into the population.

Cornyn pointed to successful movement on several bills, including those on human trafficking and opioid abuse. He also said the Senate was able to make several confirmations on federal district and appeals court judges and U.S. attorneys in the state.

Cornyn soon will end his six years as the No. 2 Republican in the Senate — he is termed out — but will remain in the party’s Senate hierarchy as a counseling role to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, he said.

In other matters, Cornyn said:

• President Trump likely believes the U.S. has accomplished its mission in Syria, defeating ISIS, which may be why he is withdrawing troops there.
• Democrats have reversed themselves more than once on funding border security. He said Democrats under U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, have largely given up border security, fighting even minimal expenditures for a border wall after agreeing to pay much more.