Pubdate: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 2000 Houston Chronicle Section: "Campaign Notebook" column Page: 19A Contact: Viewpoints Editor, P.O. Box 4260 Houston, Texas 77210-4260 Fax: (713) 220-3575 Website: http://www.chron.com/ Forum: http://www.chron.com/content/hcitalk/index.html Author: Julie Mason Note: Our newshawk writes: Here's the only thing from our press conference and vigil in Houston to make the Houston Chronicle.... I hope Julie Mason was smiling when she wrote the last paragraph, because we spent about 99% of our time criticizing the nation's drug war and only about 1% dumping on Bush, but I guess this is what the Chronicle is interested in these days. BUSH BLASTED FOR FORGETTING ABOUT VETO Several groups that last year supported legislation allowing counties to create a public defender system joined Tuesday in criticizing Gov. George W. Bush for forgetting that he vetoed it. "He couldn't even remember that it passed both houses unanimously," said G. Alan Robison, executive director of the Drug Policy Forum of Texas. Bush vetoed SB 247, sponsored by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, saying at the time that it was well-intentioned but would not improve the quality of representation or justice. On Sunday, Bush was asked about the bill during an appearance on NBC's ``Meet the Press." He could recall neither the legislation nor why he vetoed it. "No, I don't remember that bill. I can't remember the exact nature of the bill. It wouldn't be -- because I'm for public defenders," Bush told host Tim Russert. Robison, who also used the occasion to criticize the nation's drug war, was joined by representatives from the Harris County Democratic Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, the American Civil Liberties Union, Corpus Justice and others. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake