2012 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Drugs

Deval Patrick: Warehousing non-violent offenders is a costly policy failure

In cases of non-violent drug offenders, we have to deal with the fact that simply warehousing non-violent offenders is a costly policy failure. Our spending on prisons has grown 30 percent in the past decade, much of that because of longer sentences for first-time and nonviolent drug offenders. We have moved, at massive public expense, from treatment for drug offenders to indiscriminate prison sentences, and gained nothing in public safety. 92 percent of the total prison population--92 percent--is eligible for release at some point, and many come out more dangerous than they were when they went in. States across the country--most recently, Ohio, Delaware and South Carolina--have already recognized the folly of mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders and made significant reforms. Source: MA 2012 State of the State Address Jan 23, 2012

Chris Christie: Drug treatment rather than non-violent offenders in prison

Let us reclaim the lives of those drug offenders who have not committed a violent crime, by investing in drug treatment--in an in-house, secure facility--rather than putting them in prison.

Treating non-violent drug offenders is 2/3 less expensive than housing them in prison. And more importantly--as long as they have not violently victimized society--everyone deserves a second chance, because no life is disposable.

I am not satisfied to have this as merely a pilot project; I call for a transformatio of the way we deal with drug abuse and incarceration. So today I ask this Legislature to join me in this commitment that no life is disposable.

I propose mandatory treatment for every non-violent offender with a drug abuse problem, not just a select few. It will send a clear message to those who have fallen victim to the disease of drug abuse--we want to help you, not throw you away. We will require you to get treatment. Your life has value. Every one of God's creations can be redeemed.

Source: N.J. 2012 State of the State Address Jan 17, 2012

Susana Martinez: Crack down on repeat drunk drivers

I'm asking the Legislature to work with me to crack down on repeat drunk drivers. A vehicle in the hands of a repeat drunk driver is a deadly weapon--it's a deadly weapon that we should confiscate. Just like they do in Albuquerque, we should seize the vehicles of repeat drunk drivers. And for those who rack up four, five, six, or more DWI's, who just don't get the message, it's time to impose more serious, mandatory prison sentences that get them off the streets and away from our families. Source: 2012 New Mexico State of the State Address Jan 17, 2012

Bob McDonnell: Tough sentences for dealers; but new drug courts too

Repeat drug dealers are a major, perpetual cause of crime in our state. This year, I am proposing tough new laws to put away repeat drug dealers for longer periods of time. If these dealers are behind bars, they can't sell drugs to our kids, steal from their neighbors or contribute to the tragic cycle of addiction that has stolen the lives of too many Virginians.

We can break that cycle when we combine tough sentences with other effective policies. In this year's budget I have provided localities with a mechanism for obtaining authorization for new drug courts, at their expense, as long as they meet certain requirements and provide data necessary to evaluate their success. For those released from prison, who have learned from their mistakes, we will provide them with positive opportunities for change through effective prisoner re-entry policies. Over 90% of offenders get out of prison, and we don't want them going back. We want more good citizens and fewer victims.

Source: 2012 Virginia State of the State Address Jan 11, 2012

Earl Ray Tomblin: Not just criminal penalties: use technology for enforcement

Illegal drug use and the abuse of prescription drugs affect all of us. It is an equal opportunity destroyer of dreams and lives. It affects the poor, the affluent, the educated, and everyone in between. That is why this past year I formed the Governor's Substance Abuse Advisory Council and six Regional Task Forces. They have been collecting the facts, working with prevention, detection, and treatment experts in order to increase the access and effectiveness of our substance abuse programs.

Solving our drug problems is not just about increasing criminal penalties. I have learned that we must use technology to fight our drug problems and enhance enforcement. We must use our prescription monitoring program so that when an abuser tries to doctor or pharmacy shop, we stop it.

I will require that individuals pass a drug screening prior to enrolling in our state's taxpayer funded workforce training programs. Now is the time to get serious about ending drug abuse and addiction.

Source: West Virginia 2012 State of the State Address Jan 11, 2012

The above quotations are from 2012 Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for definitions & background information on Drugs. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by John Hickenlooper on Drugs. Click here for more quotes by Mitch Daniels on Drugs.
*Candidates and political leaders on Drugs:*
*Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:* GA:Chambliss(R) IA:Harkin(D) MI:Levin(D) MT:Baucus(D) NE:Johanns(R) OK:Coburn(R) SD:Johnson(D) WV:Rockefeller(D) *Resigned from 113th House:* AL-1:Jo Bonner(R) FL-19:Trey Radel(R) LA-5:Rod Alexander(R) MA-5:Ed Markey(D) MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R) NC-12:Melvin Watt(D) SC-1:Tim Scott(R)	*Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:* AR-4:Tom Cotton(R) GA-1:Jack Kingston(R) GA-10:Paul Broun(R) GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R) HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D) IA-1:Bruce Braley(D) LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R) ME-2:Mike Michaud(D) MI-14:Gary Peters(D) MT-0:Steve Daines(R) OK-5:James Lankford(R) PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D) TX-36:Steve Stockman(R) WV-2:Shelley Capito(R)	*Retired House as of Jan. 2015:* AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R) AR-2:Tim Griffin(R) CA-11:George Miller(D) CA-25:Howard McKeon(R) CA-33:Henry Waxman(D) CA-45:John Campbell(R) IA-3:Tom Latham(R) MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R) NC-6:Howard Coble(R) NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D) NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R) NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D) NY-21:Bill Owens(D) PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R) UT-4:Jim Matheson(D) VA-8:Jim Moran(D) VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Aug 10, 2019