FIGHTING METH TOP PRIORITY FOR CANDIDATE

HELENA ­ Republican attorney general candidate Jim Rice, calling
methamphetamine "the greatest threat to Montana's public safety," outlined
a plan to fight the problem.

Rice, a former three-term legislator and legislative leader who has a
private law practice in Helena, said fighting the illegal drug would be his
No. 1 priority if elected. He is running for attorney general against
Democrat Mike McGrath, Lewis and Clark County attorney since 1983

The GOP candidate said law-enforcement authorities seized only four meth
labs in Montana in 1997, but that number jumped to 24 in 1998 and to 50
labs in 1999. Rice said the number of meth labs could double again in 2000
and that the transport of the drug into Montana from outside Montana was
also growing.

Rice blamed the drug for causing an increase in spin-off crimes and an
increase in child abuse and child neglect cases arising from households
where caregivers were addicted to the drug. He said Montana is vulnerable
to meth trafficking because of its "wide open spaces and stretches of
remote highways, which make the state attractive to dealers seeking to move
or manufacture the drug here."

The candidate outlined a six-point plan to address the problem, including:

Press the federal government to declare Montana a high-intensity drug
trafficking area, a description that would release federal resources for
enforcement.

Expand the role of the Highway Patrol in making drug-related traffic stops
and arrests on the Montana highway system by providing appropriate training
and equipment.

Increase the capability of the state Crime Lab to process evidence related
to methamphetamine cases by seeking legislative approval of additional
forensic staff and equipment.

Assist local law-enforcement agencies with cleanup of toxic meth lab sites
by seeking funding from federal agencies such as the Environmental
Protection Agency and Drug Enforcement Administration.

Advocate for increased cooperation between federal, state and local
agencies to maximize existing resources, making better use of adjunct
support agencies such as the National Guard's Office of Support Services.

Urge expansion of programs that educate the public on the physical and
psychological effects of methamphetamine to discourage use, and treatment
for those who are addicted.

"The increase in methamphetamine-related cases is bleeding the time and
resources of our local law enforcement agencies," Rice said.

Citing the city of Billings as an example, Rice said the backlog of cases
has been caused in no small part by methamphetamine trafficking and related
issues.

"If we don't get a handle on the problem today, we will pay a tremendous
price tomorrow," Rice said.