GIVE METH BATTLE A CHANCE

The budget mindset of the Bush administration could wind up being a punch
in the stomach to Tennessee's recent efforts to fight methamphetamine.

Either the state's delegation to Congress should work to make sure federal
funding is sufficient to meet Tennessee's meth problems or state lawmakers
need to find ways to address the issue themselves. Meth is too big a
problem to let slide.

The Bush budget proposal actually raises overall funding for fighting
drugs, increasing the money for the drug war by 2.2% to $12.4 billion. But
most of the increase is directed at drug shipments across borders and at
international drug-fighting strategies.

Perhaps the administration doesn't fully grasp the enormity of the domestic
scourge of methamphetamine. Last year in Tennessee, 1,259 meth labs were
seized. The president wants to eliminate a $634 million grant program for
state and local police and dramatically reduce funds for the High Intensity
Drug Trafficking Areas, which relies on cooperation between federal, state
and local law enforcement organizations. The Bush plan would cut spending
there from $226 million to $100 million, saying the program has gotten too
big. Without federal help, local law enforcement is extremely challenged in
fighting drug crime. The Bush team would specifically reduce spending in a
Justice Department methamphetamine program from $52.6 million to $20 million.

Tennessee has done its part. Law enforcement officials have raised
awareness about the degree of the meth problem in the state, the
legislature has enacted tough laws aimed at addressing problems specific to
meth, and Gov. Phil Bredesen has backed those initiatives. It would be a
setback for all those efforts if suddenly federal funding jeopardized the
potential of success in the state's approach. The meth legislation has been
a thoughtful, comprehensive attempt to address a serious problem. But the
spirit of cooperation is undermined if the level of federal funding
threatens the chance for success. Tennessee appears ready to tackle the
problem. The feds should, too.