< AMENDMENT TO KILL TAXPAYER FUNDED NEEDLES DEFEATED
Appropriation Should Be Dedicated To Addicts Care, Treatment & Recovery

Republican members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee issued the following joint statement regarding the rejection of an amendment which would have barred the use of any federal or state taxpayers monies, for the purchase or distribution of syringes under the provisions of Senate bill 494. The amendment to Senate bill 494, offered by Senator Anthony Bucco, (R-25), Senator Leonard Lance, (R-23), Senator Robert Littell, (R-24), Senator Walter Kavanaugh, (R-16) and Senator Martha Bark, (R-8), would require any governmental monies, either federal or state, to be dedicated to addiction treatment and recovery rather than being spent on the purchase or distribution of needles. Republican members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee issued the following joint statement regarding the rejection of an amendment which would have barred the use of any federal or state taxpayers monies, for the purchase or distribution of syringes under the provisions of Senate bill 494. The amendment to Senate bill 494, offered by Senator Anthony Bucco, (R-25), Senator Leonard Lance, (R-23), Senator Robert Littell, (R-24), Senator Walter Kavanaugh, (R-16) and Senator Martha Bark, (R-8), would require any governmental monies, either federal or state, to be dedicated to addiction treatment and recovery rather than being spent on the purchase or distribution of needles.

It is beyond shameful that this amendment was defeated today. The taxpayers should not be required to use their hard earned money to feed the addictions of those suffering from this terrible affliction. In fact, every facet of society should be dedicated to healing these ill people rather than using taxpayer funds to help them sink deeper into the abyss of addiction and despair. The Legislature should be working to return fathers, mothers and children to their families and to facilitate the return of addicts to society. Instead of helping the families who have lost loved ones to drug dependence, we are enabling them to continue their addictions.