GOLISANO CRITICIZES DRUG LAWS

NEW YORK - Independence Party gubernatorial candidate B. Thomas Golisano
called for repeal of the Rockefeller drug laws Monday while Republican Gov.
George Pataki and Democrat H. Carl McCall traded barbs at the Columbus Day
Parade.

"To take young people and incarcerate them for 15 to 20 years or longer for
this type of offense in my opinion is almost unconstitutional," Golisano
said at a Harlem news conference.

He said Pataki's efforts to reform the Rockefeller laws, which impose
mandatory minimum sentences on drug offenders, have been "a lot more
political than based on human needs."

Pataki spokesman Michael McKeon said he couldn't comment on Golisano's
proposal until he had a chance to review it. McCall said he favors
reforming the laws, not repealing them outright.

"There still ought to be drug laws that deal with people who, for instance,
sell drugs to children," he said.

McCall, the state comptroller, was joined by former Democratic rival Andrew
Cuomo at a pre-parade news conference criticizing Pataki for what they
called his failure to outline a vision for New York's future.

"We've not heard any ideas or plans from George Pataki in terms of what he
wants to do or what he is planning to do to address the critical issues
that face New York," McCall said.

He listed the state budget, economic development, education, mental health
and women's issues as areas in which the governor's re-election campaign
"has been totally devoid of ideas or proposals for New York's future."

Asked to respond, Pataki said, "We have dozens of ideas out there that are
important and will allow us to continue to move forward."

His campaign manager, Adam Stoll, said in a statement, "People are tired of
Carl McCall's desperate attacks, and he should stop now."

McCall said Sunday's gubernatorial debate, which included all seven
candidates on the ballot, was not very useful.

"I just hope the governor will respond to my challenge for a one-on-one
debate," he said. "That would be a real debate. We could really talk about
the issues."

Pataki countered: "Mr. McCall keeps changing his mind. He started off
saying he wanted all seven candidates, then he said he wanted three
candidates, now he's saying he'll take any two candidates. I think it's
appropriate that anyone the public has a right to vote for has the
opportunity to be seen by the public."

Cuomo, the former federal housing secretary who dropped out of the race for
the Democratic nomination before the September primary, was asked whether
he would assist the McCall campaign financially.

"I'm talking to the donors, my donor base, and it's really their money," he
said. "I'm talking to them about what they want to do with these funds. But
we're clear we're going to be raising money for the Carl McCall campaign.
We're going to be giving money to the Carl McCall campaign and be giving
money to Democrats across the state."