The bridge commission has become a prime example of unethical behavior and cronyism. The individuals we have put forth are all capable of serving as a watchdog to protect the interests of the people and ensure that taxpayer money is not wasted on patronage no-bid contracts.

We wouldn't interfere with infants or toddlers unless their behavior interfered with functioning, for example, if they were really aggressive. Most can do fine until ... they're around other children.

Recently, there's been a trend in America that I find very disturbing . . . rewarding immoral and illegal behavior. . . . For example, we now give free needles to junkies, which seems to me to be only a step away from giving condoms to rapists.

There are many false tales and theories about animal behavior. Most people, for example, think that when vultures are seen circling an area, they have located a meal. More often than not, they're actually riding thermals (rising air currents) to gain altitude and have a better vantage point for sniffing out carrion. When vultures locate a scent source, they don't waste time circling. They go straight to the food. This is but one example of humans misunderstanding nature.

We're also working on further steps to insure that, when a beneficiary goes to a pharmacy in 2006, they'll be able to get their prescription drugs, even if the only proof they have is that they are in Medicaid and Medicare.

All Medicare drug plans have to cover all medically necessary treatments.