Rick Lazio on Drugs
Vote helped pass crime bill, drug courts, community police
Q: What is your approach to the “Drug War”?CLINTON: I have spoken out on my belief that we should have drug courts that would serve as alternatives to the traditional criminal justice system for low-level offenders. If the person comes before the
court, agrees to stay clean, is subjected to drug tests once a week, they are diverted from the criminal justice system. We need more treatment. It is unfair to urge people to get rid of their addiction and not have the treatment facilities when people
finally makes up their minds to get treatment.
LAZIO: The truth is that under the Clinton administration, there has been a dramatic and troubling increase in drug abuse by our children. And that has not been addressed. I crossed party lines in 1994
and built a coalition of Republicans that passed the crime bill. If it were not for that, we would not have drug courts right now. We would not have community policing. We need to have somebody in Washington who has the ability to get the job done.
Source: (X-ref Hillary) Senate debate in Manhattan
Oct 8, 2000
Supports Weed and Seed anti-drug program
Lazio [worked] to bring the innovative Weed and Seed Program [to Suffolk County]. It now boasts a computer laboratory and is likely to become a national training site. Lazio is currently working to replicate that Weed and Seed success [elsewhere].Lazio
has also received a commitment for a third site. He has worked with Suffolk County, local experts, community leaders, and other stakeholders to bring Weed and Seed anti-crime, housing, education, and community development program to this neighborhood.
Source: Issues Briefing, www.lazio.com
May 4, 2000
Stricter penalties for drugs; more funding & border security
Lazio supports the following principles regarding drugs:- Impose mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
- Strengthen current laws dealing with non-controlled substances, including inhalants and commercially available pills.
- Increase funding of federally-sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.
- Increase funding for border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S.
Source: National Political Awareness Test 1998 (vote-smart.org)
Jul 2, 1998
Voted YES on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC.
Vote to pass a bill that provides $429.1 million in funds for the District of Columbia and approves the District's $6.8 billion budget. Among other provisions, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds for needle exchange programs, prohibits implementing an approved ballot initiative to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana.
Reference: Bill sponsored by Istook, R-OK;
Bill HR 3064
; vote number 1999-504
on Oct 14, 1999