ATTORNEYS AND DRUG USE

"Even more alarming is that meth use seems to be spreading throughout the nation.  Although it has been around for decades, and was long considered the drug of choice for poor rural whites, it has now 'invaded all classes of society,' says Arkansas Republican Rep. John Boozman.  'Doctors, lawyers and professionals are just as affected.  It's as addictive a drug as anything out there.' - People Magazine, 2-16-04. 

CONGRESSIONAL PAY

Feds Raise Their Own Salaries - Congress gets bigger hikes than folks on Social Security; reported in Parade, 04-20-03.  Congress got a 3.1% pay hike this year and is set to get another raise for 2004, but retirees on Social Security only got 1.4% (and many private workers were just happy to keep their jobs).  Why the difference?  Retirees get automatic raises based on inflation, which is very low, while Congressessional raises are based on a different formula.  Members can vote to forgo their automatic raises, and Sen. Russell Feingold (D., Wis.) tried to get his colleagues to do just that, citing tough economic times and high deficits.  He lost 58-36 but may try again for 2004.  Congressional raises have totaled $18,000 in the last four years - more than the average married couple gets per year from Social Security.

CORRUPTION

In the March 1998 issue of George Magazine, Las Vegas, Nevada was listed among the "Ten Most Corrupt Cities in America", along with Chester, PA; Clovis, CA; Alek Providence, LA; Youngstown, OH; Eastman, GA; Kansas City, MO; Douglas, AZ; Miami, FL, and Washington D.C.

FALSE ARREST/FALSE CONVICTION

1.  a.  "Defense requests for DNA testing having led to more than 100 exonerations- nationwide"

     b.  "About a quarter of the exonerations nationally have involved false confessions"

     c. "Defense attorneys actually have an interest in exonerating people - prosecutors don't share that interest," Mr. Neufeld said.  "The reason they don't want to go there is twofold:  It's obviously embarrassing, but it will also precipitate an investigation into the cause of the wrongful conviction.  It's not just one man that is exonerated, you are calling into questions hundreds of convictions."

- Quoted in Prosecutors Use DNA Test to Clear Man in '85 Rape, Jodi Wilgoren, The New York Times

FALSE CONVICTION

 1.  "The criminal justice system is simply unforgiving when people do things that are quite natural," Warden said.  "When somebody asks if you're having an affair, it's quite natural to lie.  Then you're a liar.  When you start telling the truth, you're changing your story.  That's two strikes as far as a jury's concerned."

- Quoted in Convict Freed After Girlfriend's Killer Confesses, Brian Corovillano, The Associated Press

 2.  "The Republican governor and other death penalty critics argue that a plan being pushed by Senate Republicans does not do enough to fix the problems that have led to 13 people being wrongly sent to death row in Illinois during a period when 12 others were put to death."

- Quoted in Governor's Plan for Sweeping Death Penalty Reform Off Table, Ryan Keith, The Associated Press

 3.  Since 1973, 102 men and women sent to death row and later exonerated - often through DNA evidence...

-Quoted in Free at Last, People Magazine's Article on False Convictions, 12-02-02 

WORKING TOGETHER TO ATTAIN FAIRNESS