FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
September 27, 2010 Kate Duffy
kate@briandubie.com
(802) 735-8580
Shumlin’s plan to release nonviolent offenders draws criticism from Democrats’ LG candidate
Nearly 75,000 automated phone calls highlight dangers of Shumlin plan
Essex Junction, VT – Peter Shumlin’s plan to cut $40 million from the Corrections Dept. budget by releasing 780 nonviolent offenders from prison is so reckless that even members of his own party are criticizing it.
Rep. Steve Howard, the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor, is “splitting with Peter Shumlin on his prisoner release plan,” according to an interview with Seven Days.
“I wouldn’t agree with Sen. Shumlin on that plan,” Howard said. “I live in Rutland. I started a neighborhood association because of an increase in crime. I don’t necessarily agree with his approach 100 percent.”
“Like Rutland, Barre would face a major increase in crime and demand for services if the Shumlin plan went through,” Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon said. “Peter Shumlin’s plan would endanger all Vermonters.”
Rep. Howard’s public criticism of Peter Shumlin’s plan is the subject of a call the Dubie campaign sent to 75,000 homes across Vermont on Monday.
“Despite Peter Shumlin’s attempt to run away from his reckless plan, he was quite clear for the last six months that in order to balance next year’s budget and provide universal pre-K, he was going to cut $40 million out of the Corrections budget and release 780 prisoners,” Dubie campaign manager Corry Bliss said. “Peter Shumlin’s plan is so naïve and reckless that even his ticket mate, Steve Howard, sees that it would endanger Vermonters. Vermonters deserve a Governor who will put public safety first.”
Click here to listen to the call. http://briandubie.com/index.php/pages/secondary/phone_call
Hi, this is Thom Lauzon, the mayor of Barre. The number one job of government is to keep Vermonters safe. Peter Shumlin’s plan to cut $40 million from the state corrections budget by releasing nearly 800 non-violent criminals is simply dangerous. Peter Shumlin’s plan is so reckless that even members of his own party are criticizing it. Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor Steve Howard told reporters that he does not agree with the Shumlin plan and that there are better ways to close the budget gap than by releasing non-violent offenders. We are lucky to live in one of the safest states in the country. Let’s keep it that way. Call Peter Shumlin and tell him you agree with me and his ticket mate Steve Howard that putting 800 non-violent criminals into our neighborhoods is no way to balance the budget.
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Important for readers of VT DIGGER, to dig out and find the clarifying truth when we can, share it with others. Lt Governor candidate Steve Howard has put out this statement listed below.
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Steve Howard’s Statement on Brian Dubie’s Negative Campaign Tactics
Rutland, VT – Today, Brian Dubie did it again. After 8 years of failed economic policies that have cost too many Vermonters their jobs, Brian is trying to distract the voters from his record of losing 10,000 private sector jobs and 8 years of broken promises and misguided priorities. I will have no part in these ugly, negative Karl Rove style political attacks on my friend Peter Shumlin. The Lt. Governor ought to be ashamed of himself for bringing such despicable, fear-mongering and nasty campaign tactics to our state. Vermonters have had enough, they believe these negative tactics have no place in the State of Vermont and are absolutely shameful.
Let’s be clear, we would not even be having this discussion if the Lt.Governor had bothered to show up and participate for the last 8 years in building the infrastructure we need to keep crime from happening in the first place. This whole discussion is occurring as a result of the failure of the Douglas-Dubie Administration to lead in any meaningful way to reform our corrections system. I have spoken with Peter and we are both committed to a fiscally responsible law and order plan that locks up any criminal that is in any way is a danger to society.
Peter Shumlin and I agree that Vermont needs a greater public investment in drug treatment, mental health counseling, adult education, skill development, transitional housing and community support systems in order to get the Administrations runaway Corrections budget under control.
Peter and I are 100 percent in agreement that Brian Dubie has no plan to deal with our skyrocketing corrections budget and his plan to deal with government spending is to make across the board cuts to education and law enforcement. Brian Dubie should stop misleading and distracting voters and call back every Vermonter that he called to correct the record and explain why he refuses to talk with them about his record of failure on creating jobs for Vermonters.
The Committee to Elect Steve Howard, Virginia McCormack,
Treasurer
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Thank you Ken.