strong evidence that these policies had a small impact on actual crime rates, totally out of proportion to their severity.” [Jeff Stein, Salon, 4/13/15] Salon’s Jeff Stein: There Was “Very Strong Evidence” That Bill Clinton’s Crime “Policies Contributed To The Immiseration Of Vast Numbers Of Black (And Also White) Americans At The Bottom Of The Economic Ladder.” “The ‘New Democrat’ spoke on the campaign trail of being tougher on criminals than Republicans; and the symbolism of the Rector execution was followed by a series of Clinton ‘tough on crime’ measures, including: a $30 billion crime bill that created dozens of new federal capital crimes; new life-sentence rules for some three-time offenders; mandatory minimums for crack and crack cocaine possession; billions of dollars in funding for prisons; extra funding for states that severely punished convicts; limited judges’ discretion in determining criminal sentences; and so on.…There is also very strong evidence that these policies contributed to the immiseration of vast numbers of black (and also white) Americans at the bottom of the economic ladder, according to the well-known conclusions of journalists, academics and other criminal justice experts.” [Jeff Stein, Salon, 4/13/15] President Clinton Permanently Banned Anyone Convicted Of A Felony Drug Offense From Being Eligible For Food Stamps Or Welfare. “Clinton put a permanent eligibility ban for welfare or food stamps on anyone convicted of a felony drug offense (including marijuana possession). He prohibited drug felons from public housing. Any liberal arts grad with an HBO account can tell you the consequences for poor, black American cities like Baltimore. As Alexander writes, ‘More than any other president, [Clinton] created the current racial undercaste.’” [Jeff Stein, Salon, 4/13/15] …JEFF STEIN ARGUED THAT WHILE PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS “ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE” FOR THE POLICIES, HILLARY WAS A “FAMOUSLY INVOLVED FIRST LADY ON POLITICAL MATTERS” AND PLANNED TO POINT TO THE 1990s IN HER PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN Salon’s Jeff Stein Argued That While President Clinton Was “Ultimately Responsible” For The Policies, Hillary Was A “Famously Involved First Lady On Political Matters” And Planned To Point To The 1990s In Her Presidential Campaign. “While it’s true that it was Bill who, as president, was ultimately responsible for these decision, Hillary was nonetheless a famously involved First Lady on political matters — a reputation she’s shown willingness to capitalize on in her new campaign. According to a 2013 Wall Street Journal report, Hillary has ‘signaled she would use the 1990s as a selling point if she jumps in the race, making the case that, as first lady, she was part of an era that found solutions to the same sorts of political difficulties that bedevil present-day Washington.’ That legacy includes Bill Clinton’s ‘War on Drugs,’ whether you like it or not.” [Jeff Stein, Salon, 4/13/15] IN 1994, HILLARY CLINTON ADVOCATED FOR TOUGHER PRISON SENTENCES AND A THREE STRIKES YOU’RE OUT POLICY Reason Reported That In 1994, Hillary Clinton Said: “We Need More Police, We Need More And Tougher Prison Sentences For Repeat Offenders. The Three Strikes And You’re Out For Violent Offenders Has To Be Part Of The Plan.” “We need more police, we need more and tougher prison sentences for repeat offenders. The three strikes and you’re out for violent offenders has to be part of the plan. We need more prisons to keep violent offenders for as long as it takes to keep them off the streets.” [Reason, 12/5/14] AS FIRST LADY, HILLARY LOBBIED FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON’S CRIME BILL… Reason: As First Lady, Hillary Clinton “Lobbied For Her Husband's Crime Bill,” And In Recent Years Has Taken Stands In Favor Of Stricter Punishment For Hate And Sex Crimes. “As First Lady, Clinton lobbied for her husband's crime bill, which (among other things) encouraged states to enact harsher sentencing statutes and expanded the list of crimes subject to the federal death penalty. In 2001, Clinton co-sponsored a bill to provide more funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. In her 2006 book It Takes a Village, Clinton praised stricter punishments for people charged with sex crimes.” [Reason, 12/5/14]