BUSH CALLS ADMINISTRATION'S DRUG POLICY A FAILURE

Gore Spokesman Says Arrests Are Up, Overall Use Down

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Calling the Clinton-Gore administration's record on
combating illegal drugs "one of the worst public policy failures of the
1990s," George W. Bush pledged to spend $2.8 billion to reproduce the
drug-fighting efforts of his father's White House.

"In the last 71/2 years, fighting drug abuse has ceased to be a national
priority," Mr. Bush said at a campaign stop. "Drug policy has been pursued
without urgency, without energy and without success."

Mr. Bush said teen drug use increased during the administration's first
five years, the percentage of high school students who use marijuana every
day is at its highest level in 20 years and the rising use of synthetic
"club" drugs "amounts to an emerging epidemic."

During the years that Ronald Reagan and George Bush were president, teen
drug use declined -- only to rise with the election of Bill Clinton and Al
Gore in 1992, the governor said.

"The threat of drugs won't be confronted by bursts of government activity,
followed by years of neglect," he said.

A Gore spokesman rejected Mr. Bush's criticism, saying drug arrests are up
and overall drug use, including marijuana use by teenagers, has fallen in
the last two years.

"Once again, Governor Bush has misfired in attacking the progress of the
past eight years," said spokesman Douglas Hattaway. "Al Gore and the
administration proposed the largest anti-drug budget ever, and under this
administration drug arrests are up and drug use is down."

Mr. Hattaway said the federal drug-control budget has increased from $12.2
billion in 1993 to $18.5 billion in 2000. He said Mr. Gore has proposed
spending $5.3 billion over 10 years to combat drug use.

The vice president has proposed creating a matching grant program to states
and cities to test, treat and sanction probationers, prisoners and
parolees; expanding the national media campaign to deter illegal drug use
by young people; and increasing the number of drug courts.

Mr. Bush has declined to answer whether he ever used illegal drugs. Mr.
Gore has said he occasionally smoked marijuana in his youth.

As governor, Mr. Bush cut in half a program by his predecessor, Ann
Richards, to expand drug-treatment programs to 12,000 inmates. Mr. Bush
reduced the program to 5,800 beds.

On Friday, Mr. Bush proposed stepped-up spending for prison drug treatment
and prevention as part of a $2.8 billion plan over five years to reduce
teenage drug use, expand treatment, strengthen law enforcement and put more
agents on the border to intercept drugs coming into the country.

Mr. Bush said he wants to give grants to nonprofit organizations working
with businesses to promote drug-free workplaces, to community groups
advancing such programs in cities and to programs for drug-free schools.

Speaking to about 200 people at an invitation-only forum in Cedar Rapids,
Mr. Bush said President Clinton cut funding for law-enforcement and
interdiction.