Political Quotes

“today I rise in support for the Pryce-Stupak amendment, a simple, commonsense step toward reducing violence in America and addressing the rights of crime victims. Very simply, it prohibits weight training and fighting instruction within our Federal prisons. With the dual benefit of making prisons safer for our corrections officers and helping protect potential crime victims. Not only is this equipment used inside prisons as weapons--but it also supplies a means for many prisoners, already prone to violence, to increase their strength and bulk. We have unwittingly been mass producing a super breed of criminals. As a former prosecutor and judge, I understand the value of exercise as an inmate management tool. But, there are so many other forms of exercise--including basketball, jogging, aerobics, handball, and calisthenics--that cost much less and make more sense. It defies logic that we are using taxpayers' money to provide state-of-the-art health clubs for convicted criminals. This is not a bread and water measure. Some of these prisons have larger weight programs than many high school athletic departments. The Pryce-Stupak amendment is not a cure-all to crime. But, it is an important step for victims rights. Mr. Speaker, who is running our prisons anyway? If you want to stop building a better thug, support the Pryce-Stupak amendment. Let us replace barbells with books.”