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Calif. Democrats Vote To Give Convicted Drug Dealers Food Stamps
NBC11.com
5.30.08
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California Assembly Democrats have passed a controversial measure allowing convicted drug dealers to receive food stamps upon their release from prison, NBC11's Mike Luery reported.
The measure, AB 1996, was written by Sandré Swanson, D-Oakland.
Democrats argue drug dealers in treatment programs should be given a chance to redeem themselves and improve California's recidivism rate of 70 percent.
That means seven out of every 10 convicts released from prison end up back behind bars.
"This legislation is about removing barriers once a person has paid his or her debt to society, and allowing families, especially children, to avoid being punished when their loved ones or parents return to the community," Swanson said. "It’s hypocritical to say that we are trying to reduce the exploding prison population while releasing inmates without critical services to help them transition back into the community. More importantly, without support, they are inclined to return to criminal activity and drug use instead of attaining sobriety and gainful employment."
Republicans were outraged, saying it rewards drug criminals who have shown no commitment to reforming their lives.
"It is simply wrong to reward drug felons with food stamps," said Assemblyman John J. Benoit, R–Bermuda Dunes, a member of the Assembly Select Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. "With important state services on the budget chopping block, taxpayers should be outraged that Democrats prioritize giving more government benefits to drug pushers."
Republicans said that without any legitimate requirements that drug felons must complete a drug treatment program and stop abusing drugs, it would invite more fraud and abuse of the food stamp program.
The bill requires that people convicted of a drug-related offense participate in a certified drug rehabilitation program.
Existing federal law permanently bars drug-related felons from ever receiving food stamps, but allows states to opt out of the ban through legislative action.
Swanson's office cited New York state, which completely opted out of the federal ban on food stamps, and has a recidivism rate that is 25 percent better than California’s.
Legislators in the State Senate will soon take up the debate on whether the measure is coddling criminals or good public policy.
Link!
NBC11.com
5.30.08
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California Assembly Democrats have passed a controversial measure allowing convicted drug dealers to receive food stamps upon their release from prison, NBC11's Mike Luery reported.
The measure, AB 1996, was written by Sandré Swanson, D-Oakland.
Democrats argue drug dealers in treatment programs should be given a chance to redeem themselves and improve California's recidivism rate of 70 percent.
That means seven out of every 10 convicts released from prison end up back behind bars.
"This legislation is about removing barriers once a person has paid his or her debt to society, and allowing families, especially children, to avoid being punished when their loved ones or parents return to the community," Swanson said. "It’s hypocritical to say that we are trying to reduce the exploding prison population while releasing inmates without critical services to help them transition back into the community. More importantly, without support, they are inclined to return to criminal activity and drug use instead of attaining sobriety and gainful employment."
Republicans were outraged, saying it rewards drug criminals who have shown no commitment to reforming their lives.
"It is simply wrong to reward drug felons with food stamps," said Assemblyman John J. Benoit, R–Bermuda Dunes, a member of the Assembly Select Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. "With important state services on the budget chopping block, taxpayers should be outraged that Democrats prioritize giving more government benefits to drug pushers."
Republicans said that without any legitimate requirements that drug felons must complete a drug treatment program and stop abusing drugs, it would invite more fraud and abuse of the food stamp program.
The bill requires that people convicted of a drug-related offense participate in a certified drug rehabilitation program.
Existing federal law permanently bars drug-related felons from ever receiving food stamps, but allows states to opt out of the ban through legislative action.
Swanson's office cited New York state, which completely opted out of the federal ban on food stamps, and has a recidivism rate that is 25 percent better than California’s.
Legislators in the State Senate will soon take up the debate on whether the measure is coddling criminals or good public policy.
Link!
