DRUG TASK FORCE NEEDS MORE FUNDING

Making a dent in meth is the aim of the Southeast Iowa Inter-Agency
Drug Task Force. The drug task force has done its job well. The
number of meth labs in the area is way down.

Because of that, drug task force officers had more time to pursue
bigger culprits -- large drug importers, and that led recently to
busts that included a $1.3 million forfeiture.

It's a double win. The illegal drugs are off the streets, and the
task force gets part of the money.

Now, the federal government is cutting back on funding for the task
force. And some task forces in the state are being shut down due to
those lack of funds.

Officials with the Southeast force don't expect to disband, but they
do expect fewer dollars coming from Washington.

We think the lawmakers and the government need to rethink this
issue.

The agency has proven its worth. Its work needs to continue to keep
illegal drugs out of the area.

It costs $350,000 a year to fund the task force. A 70 percent cut to
the agency's budget would allow the task force to continue to operate
only a few more months.

Even before these proposed cuts, Iowa's task forces had taken a hit
with fewer funds alloted the last three years.

Illegal drug use is not the hot topic it once was. Presidential
candidates are focusing on terrorism, the war, the economy and health
care. Immigration issues recently so popular seem to be in a
stalemate position while the primaries continue.

We hate to see a program that has done so well lose its impetus. And
we don't want to see meth labs sprouting up again.