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LWV League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
Erie County, NY November 7, 2006 Election
Smart Voter

Rus Thompson
Answers Questions

Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 144

 
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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Buffalo/Niagara and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. There is growing support for reform of the Rockefeller drug laws. What will you do to: a.) Initiate significant reform of these laws; b.) Provide adequate financial support for programs, on the community level, designed to cope with the impact of such reform?

A) Reforming these laws could save the taxpayers $200 million a year and free up prison cells for real criminals. The intent was to stop the drug king pins, it has done the opposite and has instead imprisoned first timers for up to 20 years for minor amounts of drugs.

B) Alternatives are available that would help cut crime, save money, and rebuild individual lives and communities at a much lower cost to the taxpayers. The cost of most drug free outpatient care runs between $2,700-4,500 per person per year Vs Prison at $32,000 per year.

2. What programs and actions will you support to protect communities from the negative consequences of the state’s increasing dependence on gambling revenue?

Any type of revenue is an addiction to politicians especially from gambling. Until we can start replacing the incumbents with fresh faces and fresh ideas we will continue down the same destructive path.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 15, 2006 18:15
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