Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

RE: 'We all want affordable healthcare'

In her letter of 10/6/06, Marie Callahan has misstated the position of Mark Hanson, candidate for the 36th State Senate. While well-intentioned, she clearly misunderstood his plan to pay for universal healthcare through prison reform.

Ms. Callahan correctly observes that inmates will have a better chance of holding down jobs after their release if they receive rehabilitation.

Mr. Hanson agrees. In fact, his plan does NOT call for cutting prison funds. Instead, he aims to create a prison system similar to those in many European nations, where prisoners actually generate significant incomes for the state instead of costing the state money to incarcerate. His plan would bring apprenticeships and job training into the prison systems, enabling workers to be productive and learn job skills while also producing revenues for California. This plan would benefit industry, labor and consumers, providing training for workers to fill critical needs, reducing recurrence of crime by providing prisoners with skills to hold down good jobs and generating funds that could be used to make healthcare affordable for California residents.

Miriam Raftery

Communications Director

Hanson for Senate

 

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