Pubdate: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 Source: Modesto Bee, The (CA) Copyright: 2007 The Modesto Bee Contact: http://www.modbee.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/271 Author: Michael Doyle, Bee Washington Bureau Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) THE LAWMAKERS: FEWER ANTI-METH BILLS ARE EXPECTED THIS YEAR 07 More Likely To Be Used To Assess Recently Passed Laws WASHINGTON -- The House meth caucus is bigger than ever. Anti-meth bills are proliferating, their titles more elaborate by the day. But none of this means the 110th Congress will do something new about the drug. Instead, 2007 may turn out to be a year for consolidation, as lawmakers evaluate results from their most recent anti-meth package signed by President Bush in March. "I want to see what happens," Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein said. "I'm open to what the needs are, but we're going to try and answer the question of how well the last bill is working." Feinstein, D-Calif., was one of the chief sponsors of the 2006 Combat Meth Act, passed as part of a larger anti-terrorism bill. Cold medicines take the biggest hit in the law, which kicked in Sept. 30. In hopes of denying meth producers a key ingredient, the law moves cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine behind the counter. It limits individual monthly purchases to 9 grams, or about 300 cold pills, and it requires signatures and identification for purchases. "The bill introduces common-sense safeguards," Bush said. Some provisions take effect automatically. Others do not, and their impact is contingent on future congressional action. The 2006 legislation, for instance, author-izes $99 million a year for meth-related enforcement, training and research. Next year, though, lawmakers must decide how much money to actually provide. Meth needs will be competing against other law enforcement priorities. A test arrived this month, when the Bush administration released its proposed fiscal 2008 budget. Bush disappointed lawmakers again by proposing to cut funds for certain law enforcement programs, including the Community Oriented Policing Services grants used by many Central Valley cities. "This budget reflects the misplaced priorities of the Bush administration," Feinstein said. "It once again squeezes many of the programs that matter most to Americans." Lawmakers this year also must decide how much money will be devoted to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, such as the Fresno-based program targeting the valley methamphetamine trade. "We always have a meth objective in the beginning of the year," said Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia. "The biggest one will be increasing funding for the HIDTA." Mariposa Republican George Radanovich agreed that "we're focused on making sure the HIDTAs are funded." With 28 such regional organizations nationwide -- covering 43 percent of all U.S. counties - -- Radanovich added that competition for funding has increased. Politically, a spreading problem is a mixed blessing. The Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine grew to 144 members in the recently expired 109th Congress. That translates to broader clout. It also means, though, that other states have a growing claim on the federal anti-meth investment. For instance, Feinstein's co-sponsor on the 2006 meth bill was from Missouri. The same lawmaker, Republican Sen. James Talent, helped usher through a congressional resolution resulting in National Methamphetamine Awareness Day, which was recognized Nov. 30. The symbolism of a special day set aside for meth awareness is matched by the unrelenting marketing that goes into the naming of bills. In the 109th Congress, for instance, lawmakers sponsored the likes of the Clean, Learn, Education, Abolish, Neutralize and Undermine Production (CLEAN-UP) of Methamphetamines Act, the Arrest Methamphetamine Act and the Exile Meth Act. These bills included some overlapping proposals, such as new state grants, that ultimately were included in the bill passed by Congress and signed by Bush. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman