Pubdate: Thu, 05 Oct 2006
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2006 The Clarion-Ledger
Contact:  http://www.clarionledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805

BUDGET CUTS: WHAT HAPPENED TO DRUG 'WAR?'

The News That Two Drug Task Forces In Mississippi Are  Shutting Down 
Couldn't Come At A Worse Time.

Crime is on the increase, nationally and here in  Mississippi. Much 
of the crime is driven by drugs. It  is a problem not limited to 
urban areas. In fact, rural  areas of the state have unique and 
difficult drug  problems that require special enforcement.

Yet, at the time crime is on an increase, much-needed  federal grant 
money is being cut.

The North Central Narcotics Task force and the Metro  Narcotics Unit 
in DeSoto County have been informed that  the federal grant money 
that funds the state's 14  narcotics units is drying up.

Federal funding has been cut 60 percent, down to $2  million from the 
$5.3 million in 2003.

Federal officials blame changes in federal priorities  to homeland 
security for the cuts. State Rep. John  Mayo, D-Clarksdale, who 
represents the area covered by  the unit, was told the budgetary 
pressures from the war  in Iraq also are taking a toll on federal 
funding for  such programs. Mayo is rightly angered that safety at 
home is being sacrificed for the Iraq war.

Security at home includes basic safety. Federal funding  is critical 
to such specialized programs as drug  enforcement.

The United States is committed to the war in Iraq, but  it also must 
be committed to the drug war at home.  These cuts should be restored.

[Sidebar]

Priorities

Shifts in federal funding priorities to homeland  security should not 
sacrifice federal funding for law  enforcement in the war against drugs.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine