Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jan 2001
Source: Albuquerque Tribune (NM)
Copyright: 2001 The Albuquerque Tribune
Contact:  P.O. Drawer T, 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109
Website: http://www.abqtrib.com/
Author: Gilbert Gallegos
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/johnson.htm (Johnson, Gary)

LEGISLATORS WANT MONEY FOR TREATMENT IN DRUG POLICY

The Governor Must Plan For Funding Recovery Programs Before Considering Law 
Changes, They Said.

SANTA FE -- Gov. Gary Johnson is under pressure from the Legislature to 
come up with the cash for drug-treatment programs if he expects the rest of 
his drug-policy reform package to see the light of day.

One of Johnson's top aides said Monday that legislators have made it plain 
to the governor that he must prove he is serious about treatment and 
prevention by pumping money into programs.

Otherwise, legislators who are already cool to most of the governor's ideas 
on drugs will not budge on his package of drug bills.

"Basically they're saying, 'Show us the cash and we'll show you movement on 
the bills,'" said Dave Miller, the governor's legislative liaison.

Thus far, lobbyists hired to pitch the governor's package to legislators 
have had a difficult time lining up sponsors for many of the bills, Miller 
said.

A bill dealing with the medical use of marijuana is expected to be 
introduced this week. But the rest of the package is in limbo until 
legislators find out more about Johnson's plans for treatment programs.

Administration officials are putting together a package of about $5 million 
- -- likely in the form of a bill -- they hope will meet legislators' 
concerns, Miller said.

Johnson was featured Monday on the ABC News program "Nightline" for his 
drug-reform efforts.

The show dealt specifically with efforts to stem the number of heroin 
overdoses in Rio Arriba County.

After taping the show Monday afternoon at the Roundhouse, Johnson told 
reporters that he has turned much of the lobbying for his drug plan over to 
former Democratic Gov. Toney Anaya and state Republican Party official 
Mickey Barnett.

"You know we've really left this strategy on this to Toney Anaya and Mickey 
Barnett," Johnson said. "And although we're working with them, a lot has 
been invested in them, and we're trying to follow their lead."

Anaya and Barnett, both lawyers, were hired as lobbyists recently by the 
Center for Policy Reform, a nonprofit group affiliated with the Lindesmith 
Center for Drug Policy Reform.

The Lindesmith Center has played a central role in Johnson's efforts to 
reform New Mexico's drug laws, including an idea to decriminalize the 
possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Johnson has warned in the past that he would resist legislative efforts to 
pour money into treatment programs if his reform ideas were not part of the 
package.

But Miller said that administration officials, including Health Secretary 
Alex Valdez, have come up with a model for treatment programs that will be 
presented to Johnson this week. If the governor gives the OK to that plan, 
it will then be pitched to leery legislators, Miller said.

Rep. Mimi Stewart, an Albuquerque Democrat, said Johnson must do more than 
promise treatment programs in order to sell his ideas. She said she told 
Johnson last week that he must convince Republicans to buy in to the bills.

Republicans have been the staunchest critics of drug reform. Stewart said 
she was hammered in the fall election for voting against a Republican 
memorial meant to distance legislators from the governor's support for 
legalizing drugs.

"I wanted to point out how hypocritical the governor was for vetoing year 
after year the treatment and prevention programs for youths that I 
introduced," Stewart said. "And Republicans used that against me.

"The governor can't have it both ways. He wants Democrats to vote for his 
drug bills, but his own Republicans are running for cover."

Of the $5 million for the new administration plan, about $4 million would 
go to the Health Department as a one-year program to treat about 4,000 
hard-core drug addicts, Miller said. The money would be directed to 
low-income drug users around the state.

"We view this as a substantive commitment," Miller said.

The other $1 million would be split among other harm-reduction programs, 
such as expanding methadone treatment programs for heroin addicts; 
expanding the syringe-exchange program; and training medical doctors to 
understand harm-reduction strategies.

Money to pay for the programs would come from the state's share of the 
national tobacco settlement.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager