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Corporate Crime Impasse Stalls Obama Bid to Ease Drug Sentences

  • Obama builds alliance that includes billionaire Koch brothers
  • Group of Republicans holding out for change on criminal intent
President Barack Obama speaks in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House in Washington on Dec. 10, 2015.

President Barack Obama speaks in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House in Washington on Dec. 10, 2015.

Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

President Barack Obama’s drive to get one last legacy-enhancing act out of Congress -- revamping sentences for street-level drug crimes -- is hitting an impasse over crimes committed in corporate suites.

The White House has mounted an unusual effort to maintain momentum on the issue, which the president will highlight with Tuesday’s State of the Union address. That’s included a personal appeal by Obama to lawmakers haggling over the legislation and a private meeting between one of his closest advisers and a representative of billionaire Republican donors Charles and David Koch.