Pubdate: Sat, 21 May 2005
Source: Watertown Daily Times (NY)
Copyright: 2005 Watertown Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.wdt.net
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/792
Author: Larry Seguin

PRISONS OVER CHARITIES

Charities that help the needy took drastic cuts in funding this year.
When crime is at an all time low the U.S., with the largest prison
population in the world, managed to increase incarceration by 900 a
week. That translates to $1.1 billion less to help the impoverished.
Congressman John McHugh on Wednesday May 11 voted for bill H.R. 1279
the "Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act".

Bill H. R. 1279 will cost $7 billion taxpayer dollars over 10 years
and put 23,600 more people in prison, many of whom would be youths
under more 'mandatory minimums'.

I don't understand John McHugh's vote at a time when states are
struggling with tight budgets and want to end mandatory minimums. You
can put anybody in prison without finding drugs; we already have a
fits-all law, Conspiracy. As crime goes down why new laws to create
more criminals?

Congressman John McHugh voted against the Hinchey/Rohrabacher medical
marijuana amendment. That amendment would have prevented the DEA from
arresting medical marijuana patients in the states that voters have
approved medical marijuana.

John McHugh tends to his needs in his personnel war on marijuana
instead of the needs of the uninsured or hungry in his district.

Time charities turn to John McHugh instead of the public for money.
Get some of our tax dollars before he puts it all into prisons caging
non-violent marijuana offenders.

Larry Seguin

Lisbon
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin