Schwarzenegger: Marijuana debate is needed
Published: May 6, 2009 at 2:40 PM
DAVIS, Calif., May 6 (UPI) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says it's time to seriously debate the merits of legalizing and taxing the recreational use of marijuana.
Although the Republican does not support a legalization move, he did say Tuesday in Davis, Calif., that in a time of economic crisis that has plunged the state's budget into red ink, the time is right to discuss the idea, The Sacramento Bee reported Wednesday.
"Well, I think it's not time for (legalization), but I think it's time for a debate," Schwarzenegger said. "I think all of those ideas of creating extra revenues, I'm always for an open debate on it. And I think we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what effect did it have on those countries?"
The governor's comments came after a statewide poll indicated 56 percent of registered California voters supported legalizing and taxing marijuana to raise revenue for the cash-strapped state.
Thirteen years ago, California voters authorized marijuana's use for medical purposes, the newspaper said.
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Monday, May 18, 2009
US: Prison Company to Pay $42.5 Million in Beating Death
US: Prison company to pay $42.5 million in beating deathby John MacCormack, San Antonio Express NewsApril 8th, 2009
In a searing opinion, the 13th Court of Appeals has upheld $42.5 million in punitive damages against a private prison operator for the “horrific and gruesome death” of inmate Gregorio De La Rosa Jr. in 2001.
De La Rosa was beaten to death by two other inmates at a 1,000-bed facility in Raymondville while guards and supervisors looked on, according to trial testimony three years ago.
The trial judge concluded that prison officials, including co-defendant David Forrest, the prison warden, had destroyed or lied about critical evidence, including a videotape of the fatal beating.
When De La Rosa died, he had only four days left to serve on a six-month sentence for a minor drug offense.
In the appellate court's ruling late last week, it upheld all but $5 million of the original $47.5 million jury award, noting, “We find Wackenhut's conduct was clearly reprehensible and, frankly, constituted a disgusting display of disrespect for the welfare of others and for this state's civil justice system.”
Wackenhut Corrections Corp. later became the Geo Group, which operates about 50 private prisons in five countries, including 19 in Texas. Lawyer Reagan Simpson, who represented Geo, did not return a call seeking comment.
Ronald Rodriguez of Laredo, who sued Wackenhut on behalf of De La Rosa's family, said the appellate court sent “a clear message to the Geo Group that it will not tolerate (its) intentional malice, trickery and deceit, and attempted manipulation of the judicial system.”
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
In a searing opinion, the 13th Court of Appeals has upheld $42.5 million in punitive damages against a private prison operator for the “horrific and gruesome death” of inmate Gregorio De La Rosa Jr. in 2001.
De La Rosa was beaten to death by two other inmates at a 1,000-bed facility in Raymondville while guards and supervisors looked on, according to trial testimony three years ago.
The trial judge concluded that prison officials, including co-defendant David Forrest, the prison warden, had destroyed or lied about critical evidence, including a videotape of the fatal beating.
When De La Rosa died, he had only four days left to serve on a six-month sentence for a minor drug offense.
In the appellate court's ruling late last week, it upheld all but $5 million of the original $47.5 million jury award, noting, “We find Wackenhut's conduct was clearly reprehensible and, frankly, constituted a disgusting display of disrespect for the welfare of others and for this state's civil justice system.”
Wackenhut Corrections Corp. later became the Geo Group, which operates about 50 private prisons in five countries, including 19 in Texas. Lawyer Reagan Simpson, who represented Geo, did not return a call seeking comment.
Ronald Rodriguez of Laredo, who sued Wackenhut on behalf of De La Rosa's family, said the appellate court sent “a clear message to the Geo Group that it will not tolerate (its) intentional malice, trickery and deceit, and attempted manipulation of the judicial system.”
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
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