Pubdate: Thu, 26 Jul 2001
Source: Modesto Bee, The (CA)
Copyright: 2001 The Modesto Bee
Contact:  http://www.modbee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/271
Author: Michael Doyle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

FEDERAL BILL INCLUDES MONEY FOR COURTHOUSE IN FRESNO, METH FIGHT

WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a spending 
bill that includes $121.2 million for a new federal courthouse in Fresno 
and money to fight methamphetamine.

The House approval, and similar action expected as early as today from a 
crucial Senate committee, is the clearest signal yet that the long-sought 
Fresno courthouse, to replace an older structure, is cruising toward 
construction.

"It's great to get the whole ball of wax," said Rep. George Radanovich, 
R-Mariposa, "and there's nobody thinking of taking (the money) out."

The federal court in Fresno serves a district that extends north to 
Stanislaus County.

For the government's continuing war on methamphetamine, the funding bill 
requires the Bush administration to provide at least as much money to 
so-called High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas next year as they are 
receiving this year.

That would guarantee roughly $1.5 million for the nine-county HIDTA now 
fighting the Central Valley's meth trade.

California lawmakers were not able to win a guaranteed increase in funding 
for the Central Valley anti-meth efforts. Instead, the influential House 
Appropriations Committee is recommending boosts for anti-drug efforts in 
such areas as Texas, Florida and Appalachia.

The Californians do expect, however, that the Bush administration's Office 
of National Drug Control Policy will boost the Central Valley program by an 
additional $1 million. The House is making such an increase a tad easier, 
by boosting overall HIDTA spending nationwide by 12 percent more than Bush 
wanted.

"We're optimistic," Rep. Cal Dooley, D-Hanford said of the added Central 
Valley spending, "but it hasn't been carved in stone."

The 383,000-square-foot federal courthouse, proposed at Tulare and O 
streets, has been a nonpartisan affair, with state lawmakers pressing it 
both on its own merits and as a shot in the arm for Fresno's downtown.

"It's just terrific," Dooley said. "This is 99.99 percent done."

No known obstacle stands in the way of final approval for the Fresno 
courthouse money. The $17 billion measure that includes the courthouse 
money also funds the Treasury Department, the White House drug czar's 
office and other federal agencies. Congress must pass the appropriations 
bill to keep the agencies from shutting down Sept. 30. The Bush 
administration has fully supported the courthouse construction proposals.

The bill also includes funding for courthouses in Texas, Illinois, Oregon 
and Florida, among other states, and enjoys widespread support. The 
proposed nine-story Fresno courthouse is far and away the most expensive of 
the projects, and is ranked the top priority of the U.S. Judicial Conference.

"We're sailing along," U.S. District Judge Robert Coyle said earlier this 
week. "We're in great shape."
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