This past week, I had the opportunity to tour a local correctional facility in the 117th Assembly District and came across something problematic. While meeting with the hard-working men and women who help keep the criminals locked up and our community safe, a clear plastic bag was placed in front of me. At first, there was confusion as to what purpose this item served. It was then explained to me that this was what the employees of the correctional facility had to now use for carrying lunch into work. These clear plastic “Made in China” bags are the response to last year’s corrections facility break that took place in Clinton County.

With this clear bag, it will now be more difficult for contraband to be carried in to corrections facility. However, the problem that was brought to my attention was the terrible job these bags do of keeping cool the food inside of them. There is also a $9 fee for each additional bag that has to be purchased by the over 45,000 employees that work in the Department of Corrections.

While I am all for ensuring we try our best to keep the criminals locked up and avoid the situation that took place last year, there is a proper response that can be taken, and then there is a response that I feel goes over the top. The response here, I feel is the latter, and frankly, is insulting. It was explained to me that there were already a level of bag searches and the issue of escaping prisoners isn’t a chronic issue. It seems we have let one extreme situation determine the type of policies we institute at the inconvenience of the hard-working men and women of these corrections facilities.

This could be said as much as in the state legislature. There is an overwhelming sense of kneejerk legislation proposed each year, with this legislation’s creation being an extreme circumstance. Whether it is the media storm behind this year’s “Raise the Age” legislation or the “Liberty Act,” our vision is to have a limited government, which doesn’t over burden the masses. This means taking our time and creating legislation that is correct the first time it is enacted.

I want to know what you think about this or any other legislative matter. Please contact me by emailing blankenbushk@nyassembly.gov or by calling my office at 315-493-3909