William Hughes: “How can anybody be opposed to developing a comprehensive plan to manage precious Federal resources or State resources? I…”

“How can anybody be opposed to developing a comprehensive plan to manage precious Federal resources or State resources? I do not know how my colleague, who is a dear friend of mine, from New Mexico can argue that there is something pernicious about developing a comprehensive plan. I mean, part of our problem in this country is that we have not done a very good job of managing resources. Members can ask any Governor throughout the country and they all support basically developing a comprehensive plan, or any corrections official, and they will tell us we have not done a very good job. And it is true, as part of that plan, they should be identifying those defendants who basically are the ones that should be moved into diversion programs. Now, the gentleman from New Mexico does support diversion programs. Not every individual who is a nonviolent offender, who has not carried a weapon, who has not committed an offense that has seriously hurt anybody is a fit subject for diversion. And any correction official, Democrat or Republican, throughout the country will tell us that we need to do a better job of basically managing our resources. That is an important component. Yes, we do have to lock up more violent offenders and we do have to have truth in sentencing. I support that.”