George Pataki in Sunday Political Talk Show interviews during 2013-2015
On Drugs:
Let's see what happens in Colorado with legalization
Colorado voters in 2012 resoundingly approved a proposal legalizing recreational use of marijuana by adults. Some candidates say the federal government should crack down in states that have legalized adult possession. Other hopefuls say let the states
experiment. Former New York Gov. George Pataki said in 2014: "I am not in favor of legalizing marijuana, but having said that I am a great believer that states are the laboratory of democracy." He added: "Let's see what happens" in Colorado.
Source: PolitiFact Texas fact-checking on 2016 presidential hopefuls
Oct 28, 2015
On Social Security:
I would not reduce social security benefits
I don't consider Social Security an entitlement. Social Security is something you paid for. When you're working, the money is taken out. I would not in any way reduce the benefits or make it more difficult for someone who has paid into Social Security to
get it. All Americans working should be a part of Social Security, and that would increase the pool of people paying to Social Security. The second thing is to grow our economy so we have fewer dependent on government.
Source: RFD-TV 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Sep 29, 2015
On Gun Control:
Do a better job of enforcing federal gun laws
First of all, mental health is a critical component. We have to do more to expand mental health counseling, mental health preventative services. The second thing with federal gun laws, is that we need to do a
better job of enforcing them. It is illegal to bring a gun across state lines, and yet it happens all the time, and I don't understand why the federal government is not doing far more to prevent that.
Source: TheSkimm.com 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Jul 8, 2015
On Immigration:
Practical policy: legal residency after 200 hours of service
Donald Trump released a statement restating the controversial comments he made almost three weeks ago when he announced he was running for president: "What can be simpler or more accurately stated? The Mexican Government is forcing their most unwanted
people into the United States. They are, in many cases, criminals, drug dealers, rapists, etc.," Trump's statement said. Trump's comments have resulted in the termination of a number of his business relationships, but it wasn't until the past week that
fellow Republican candidates began to forcefully condemn his comments.George Pataki laid out what he calls are "practical" policy solutions for the issue of securing the southern U.S. border, as well as what to do with the millions of illegal
immigrants already living in the country. Pataki's immigration proposals include allowing illegal immigrants to obtain the status of legal resident if they come forward publicly, have no criminal history, and commit to 200 hours of community service.
Source: CNN.com 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Jul 6, 2015
On Gun Control:
Signed New York state's strict gun control legislation
As governor of New York, he passed what was at the time described by the New York Times as the strictest gun control legislation in the country. Pataki is unusual among the crowded field of Republican candidates in that he supports gun control laws:
Rick Perry is an NRA supporter and Second Amendment advocate who, as governor of Texas, tried to lure gun manufacturers to the state. Rand Paul is an ardent defender of the Second Amendment. Donald Trump believes guns are necessary for self-defense.
Source: Rolling Stone magazine on 2016 presidential hopefuls
Jun 18, 2015
On Drugs:
OK to legalize if we can contain addiction and kids' access
I would not be adverse to changing the law if we could guarantee there was no spillover to, three things actually--no spillover to adjacent states, protection for minorities that are ironclad, and the third is there's no increase in dependency as a
result of that. If all of a sudden we see the state that legalizes it is resulting in much higher dependency costs that the federal government has to pay for, I think the federal government has the right to say you can't do that.
Source: HughHewitt.com 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Apr 23, 2015
Page last updated: Nov 30, 2021