SILVER PLANS TO RESIST PATAKI ON ROLLBACK OF DRUG LAWS

The Democratic speaker of the Assembly thinks that there are too many
political liabilities involved in rescinding the state's tough
Rockefeller-era drug laws and is opposed to reform.

Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, does not intend to take up proposals
to change the laws this year, spokeswoman Patricia Lynch said in a New York
Times article Thursday. Silver thinks that Democratic members could be
vulnerable to challengers in more conservative upstate and suburban
districts if they vote to ease the drug laws, Ms. Lynch said.

"At this time, there are no plans by the Assembly leadership to address the
governor's proposal," Ms. Lynch said. She and Silver could not be reached
Thursday to elaborate on the comments.

This month, Gov. Pataki proposed a modest rollback on the harshest of the
drug laws, which provide for a sentence of up to 15 years to life in prison
for people caught possessing as little as four ounces, or trying to sell as
little as two ounces, of narcotics.