Quotes by Bobby Scott

“No one should be denied the opportunity to get an education and increase their earning potential based solely on their inability to pay for a college education.”

“The death penalty is discriminatory and does not do anything about crime.”

“Giving a 10-year mandatory minimum for a second offense fist fight is not going to reduce the chance that someone will be stabbed 16 times when you are not funding any of the programs that are desperately needed to actually reduce juvenile crime.”

“Unequal funding resources also results in unequal educational opportunity when you consider studies that show that one half of low income students who are qualified to attend college do not attend because they cant afford to.”

“We also know that the death penalty is not only flawed, but is disproportionately applied to minorities and the poor.”

“The most money we have ever been able to get appropriated for the juvenile justice bills was $55 million a year, about one-tenth of what was necessary.”

“In the Brown decision, the United States Supreme Court unanimously struck down the legal and moral footing of racially segregated public education in this country.”

“Obviously, there has to be a profound change in direction. Otherwise, interest on the national debt will start eating up virtually every penny that we have.”

“We can fight Big Industry.”

“When you run up this kind of deficit, we talk about increasing the debt limit, but one thing you have to do is pay interest on all of that debt.”

“The Federal prison population has increased more than 7-fold over the past 20 years.”

“We can be more inclusive.”

“Many sentences are excessively long because mandatory sentencing policies do not allow sentencing judges the discretion to distinguish between hardened criminals and those amenable to rehabilitation and preparation for successful re-entry.”

“While we must ensure that these dangerous new drugs and precursors do not get in the hands of children or others who would use them improperly, we must also be aware that these same drugs have legitimate uses.”

“We can play politics, or we can reduce crime.”

“It is imperative, therefore, that we continue to recognize that a strong academic foundation is necessary for all students emerging from high school.”

“Each year over 2,500 commercial vessels enter the Port of Hampton Roads alone, so adequate funding for port security is a significant issue for those of us who live in Richmond and Hampton Roads.”

“Obviously, we have work to do to complete the promise of the Brown decision and Dr. Kings dream for our nation.”

“Some young athletes are using the drugs with the belief that they can become great in their sport and gain money and fame.”

“Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments.”