"Today, in Rochester, the New York State Assembly continues its work to consider changes to the outdated Rockefeller Drugs Laws. I applaud the Assembly's courage in re-examining this failed experiment which has devastated our youth and overwhelmed our criminal justice system in New York.
"I call on the State Senate and my Republican opponent, Joseph Robach, to repeal these misguided and expensive laws. Instead, the Senate needs to take action on proven methods of dealing with drug addicted individuals, punishing where appropriate but also providing treatment for the underlying addiction itself.
"The Rockefeller Drugs laws cost taxpayers millions of dollars by incarcerating people without acknowledging or providing the necessary treatment for their addiction. Even as addiction destroys hundreds of lives right here in Rochester, devastates families, and leads to murders and killings in our neighborhoods, the Senate Republicans sit on their hands and achieve nothing.
"We need to approach this issue smartly, punishing crimes but also applying a public health approach to addiction that focuses on saving lives - and money - by restoring families and increasing community health by reducing death and disease associated with drug abuse.
"Senator Robach, backed by his Republican colleagues in the State Senate, has taken the George Bush "ignore the problem and hope it goes away" approach, refusing to repeal the Rockefeller drug laws. We know that these laws devastate the communities that Senator Robach was elected to represent, but he and his fellow Republicans fall back on simplistic rhetoric rather than actually dealing with the problem.
"Joe Robach needs to start listening to the people he is supposed to represent and get on board the effort to restore judicial discretion in sentencing and mitigate the harsh sentences imposed under the Rockefeller drug laws. The time has come for a change in these laws and change in the Senate to bring about a public health initiative to end drug abuse."
If you want a solution to the drug problem, you will go straight to the heart of the problem: Those who get addicted to the drugs and whose lives are ruined because of drug use. That is what Dollinger is arguing for here and I'm glad to see he called on Robach to take action.
