No More Tulias – federal legislation filed

Via Scott at Grits for Breakfast with additional information at Drug Policy Alliance:

Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s bill would [prohibit] states from spending federal money on anti-drug task forces unless they have laws to prevent people from being convicted of drug offenses solely on the uncorroborated word of an undercover officer or informant.

The legislation is based on a law enacted by the Texas legislature in the wake of the Tulia, Texas scandal. That law was passed thanks to a coalition of Christian conservatives and civil rights activists. During the floor debate, conservative Texas legislators quoted the Bible and pointed out that Mosaic law requires corroboration, while civil rights leaders emphasized the need to reduce racial disparities and protect innocent people from going to prison.

This is what we need to see more of. Different groups with differing agendas realizing that the drug war is wrong in so many ways that they can work together to reverse some of the worst abuses.
This is a bill that should be fully supported.