Volker on Rockefeller Reform: Look at What the Judges Did to Padavan

ALBANY—I asked State Senator Dale Volker, a Buffalo-area Republican, about reforming the Rockefeller Drug Laws -- and he responded by warning against creating a "jail-break," and by citing the current situation of State Senator Frank Padavan, who despite holding an apparent lead over challenger Jim Gennaro by several hundred votes, has not been declared the winner in the 11th Senate District, pending court action.

"Look what happened, in Queens, with Frank Padavan," Volker said. "Judges in New York City and particularly in Queens -- we don't exactly trust their ability to stand up to different things. Frank Padavan would have been confirmed back in December, because everybody knew he won. But you know, I mean, look. And I'm usually a big supporter of judges, but I was around here when the Rockefeller Drug Laws were done, and I know why they were done. And it's very scary. We have to be very careful that we don't get back to the 60s, 70s, or 80s."