ROCKEFELLER NEWS FLASH

Les Payne is amazing in his myopia ["State Will Pay for Harsh Drug Laws,"
Viewpoints, May 19].

He lashes out against former State Sen. John Dunne for sponsoring the
original Rockefeller Drug Laws, stating he is "splattered with the blood of
the nation's youth."

Yet, he misses the point. Dunne was a conservative senator who has admitted
a mistake (a rare occurrence among elected officials, past or present) and
is actually trying to do something about that mistake.

News flash for Payne: The Rockefeller Drug Laws are here to stay, unless
leaders such as John Dunne join in those arguing for reform. By
"splattering" sensationalism in his column, how does Payne help the very
people who will benefit from the cause of reform?

Sen. Michael Balboni (R-Mineola)

Albany