Pubdate: Thu, 07 Oct 2010
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Section: Letter of the Day
Copyright: 2010 Linda Paey
Contact: http://www2.tbo.com/static/tools/contact-us/
Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: Linda Paey

MORAL CHARACTER

An innocent man was sent to prison in 2004 for 20 years, the mandatory
sentence. Did he murder, rape, assault or rob? No, his crime was being
unable to prove that the pain pills he took for his severe chronic
pain were received from prescriptions properly written by his doctor.

This unfortunate man, with multiple sclerosis, had been in a car
accident and had operations, hospitalizations, treatments and therapy
that left him in a wheelchair with a morphine pump to control his
pain. He would still be in prison now if not for the courageous
politicians who pardoned him - my husband Richard - in 2007.

Gov. Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, now running
for other offices, voted to release my husband. We are fully aware of
the political risk they took by making this vote. This is what
elections are all about, voting in good people who have a history of
doing good deeds so they continue to do them for more people. They
forever have our gratitude, our support and our vote.

Linda Paey

Hudson
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake