To the Point

Ex-Cons and Life on the Outside

For 25 years, the popular crackdown on crime has quadrupled the number of inmates in state and federal prisons. But every sentence must end, and this year, 600,000 ex-cons will be released back into society. Because prison vocation and education programs have been cut back, they'll be poorly prepared for life in society. A cut in parole services will deprive them of much needed transitional supervision and services. What does that mean for public safety? We hear about resources, roadblocks, and recidivism, from an ex-con who's made it against high odds and from experts throughout the criminal justice system. Newsmaker: National Election Reform - George W. Bush, whose own presidential election was marked by controversy, today commended former Presidents Ford and Carter for their work on the National Commission on Federal Election Reforms. Caleb Kleppner, of the Center for Voting and Democracy, says that Bush was lukewarm about their specific recommendations. Reporter's Notebook: The Phantom Surplus - Borrowing Money to Pay for Tax Rebates - The budget surplus was a basic assumption of last year's presidential campaign. George W. Bush said it would finance tax cuts and spending increases. Now, with tax rebate checks in the mail, the administration must borrow money to cover them. BusinessWeek's Rick Dunham has more on the politics of tax cuts and a shrinking surplus.