Gov. Martin O?Malley today plans to veto a measure the Legislative Black Caucus backed that would permit parole for drug dealers convicted a second time, rather than make them serve the mandatory 10-year sentence.
“I don?t believe this is moving in the right direction,” O?Malley said Wednesday.
Bill sponsor Del. Curt Anderson, D-Baltimore City, said O?Malley had expressed concerns about the bill.
Anderson said the governor also told him he would have a deputy legislative aide, Sean Malone, “working with me in crafting a more comprehensive piece of legislation” that includes more funding for drug treatment.
The bill does not expand drug treatment, O?Malley said.
Getting treatment rather than jail time was why “the caucus felt it was important to have this bill, Anderson said.
