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PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. Criminal-sentencing reform proponents in Congress are hopeful that Vice President Mike Pence will be an ally, helping them towork with thenew law-and-order administration to pass legislation to cut mandatory minimum sentencing for drug-law offenders.

Ive got reason to be hopeful, House Oversight Committee ChairmanJason Chaffetz told reporters at a morning session of the Seminar Network, a large group of wealthy libertarian and conservative donors gathered in Palm Springs by Charles and David Koch.

Pence and President Donald Trump ran a campaignwith a frequent law and order theme, includingpromises to crack down on violent crimeandto help communities hit by the scourge of opioid addiction. His pick to lead the Department of Justice, Sen. Jeff Sessions, has been a stanch congressional opponent of federal-level reform, maintaining thatthe problem of over-criminalization is at the state not federal level.(RELATED: Three Republican Senators Kick Off Kochs First Massive Donor Conference In Age Of Trump)

Speaking to reporters alongside Sen. Mike Lee, also of Utah, Chaffetz said, Gov.Pence, having been a governor,he understands this. In the end, hes done some wise things. And Ialso think you you will see concertedsupport from conservative governorswho will buoy up any support in the White House.

If youregoing to be toughon crime, you better be smart about it. And there are hardened criminals who do need tospend the rest of their lives in prison.

But, he added, we need to fix the problem of repeat offenders spending years in prison for drug crimes.

Doug Deason,aSeminar Network donor with an interest in sentencing reform, highlighted the White Houses new legislative director, Marc Short, as anotherreason to be hopeful. Before joining the administration, Short was a longtime adviser to Pence and a lead deputy in the libertarian Koch network. He cares passionately about criminal justice reform, Deasonsaid.

Deason, a Texas businessman who is president ofDeason Capital Services, was lessenthusiastic about Sessions, telling reporters,Im glad they got him out of the Senate, they got him out of the way!

Chaffetz defended Sessions, however,pointing to the Fairness in Sentencing Act the Alabama senator shepherded through in 2010, reducing the difference between sentencesfor crack cocaine and powder cocaine.

Ithink last year we were caught up in presidential politics and Ithink hes in a different position now, Chaffetz said.

Criminal-sentencing reform isa tricky business with no guarantees. Right now, the prospects for such legislation seem good, given that lawmakers from both parties have been wrangling with a reform bill for months, Politico reportednearly two years ago, in July 2015.(RELATED: Mike Lee Is Certain The Senate Will Confirm TrumpsSupreme Court Nominee)

We were so closelast time, Lee, a member of the SenateCommittee on the Judiciary, lamented toreporters at the seminar.

Aclose friend of Sen. Ted Cruz, Leeurged Trump to quit in October and declined to endorse him throughout the election. Chaffetz went back and forth, endorsing, then withdrawing afterthe publication of a video showing Trump making lewd sexual comments, then deciding to vote for him without endorsing.I will not defend or endorse [Trump], but I am voting for him, Chaffetz tweetedat the end of Octover. [Hillary Clinton] is that bad. [Clinton]is bad for the USA.

Both menrepresent Utahs quieter, more conflict-adverse, Mormon Republican electorate.

Held twicea year, the seminars are a gathering place for the Seminar Network,a large group of wealthy donorsinterested in libertarian causes. This weekends seminar, held in thetemperate desert outside of Los Angeles, will be the first since Trumps election and inauguration. The network spent hundreds of millions on advertising and advocacy for limited-government politicians namely, Republicans running forthe U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, but notablystayed out of the presidential primaries and race. The network is co-chaired by Charles Koch Institute President Brian Hooks and Mark Holden, generalcounsel for Koch Industries.(RELATED:As Trump Presidency Dawns, Kochs Plan To Bring Hundreds Of Millions To Bear On Next Two Years)

Called A Time to Lead, the meeting is hosted at the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort and Spa, and is focused on local, grassroots initiatives Americans can take inwhat Hooks called the key institutions of society education, community, business and government.(RELATED:Charles Koch Calls For Action: We Might Not Have An Opportunity Again Like We Have Today)

There are around 550 individuals included in the principals network meeting, which requires at least $100,000 donation to the network. In addition to these invited people, there are approximately 150 staff and speakers, Seminar Network spokesman James Davis told reporters. There is also a larger press presence than any previous conference has allowed.

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Editors Note: Christopher Bedford was a fellow at the Charles KochInstitute in 2010.

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Want Drug-Sentencing Reform? Look To Mike Pence, Congressman Says - Daily Caller