The Hill News

Something dramatic happened quietly in the still of a recent afternoon.
 
A Senate amendment that would create an entirely new federal crime, dramatically increase statutory terms of imprisonment for half a dozen crimes, and overrule two Supreme Court decisions, among other things, was added to the swift-moving STOCK Act that is shooting through the legislative process like a New York-bound Acela train.
 
But despite the fact that the amendment would make dramatic changes to the nation’s criminal laws and have a profound impact on individual liberties, it passed by voice vote without debate or discussion.
 
If you blinked, you would have missed it.
 
Politicians cannot seem to resist looking to the criminal laws for a quick fix to any problem. But it’s time to find a different way to address the nation’s challenges.

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