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.
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