NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE

If federal dollars for meth lab cleanups skirt Kansas, as is the plan, our
problem could only get worse.

You may have noticed that the newspaper often follows a politician's name
with "R-Topeka," or "D-Wichita." That's to indicate which party the
politico represents.

You might have noticed, too, that there is no such party delineation
provided for those arrested for having a methamphetamines lab, or for the
neighbors who have to put up with the smelly, explosive contraption. That's
because the illegal drug labs have nothing to do with politics.

Or, at least, they shouldn't.

Sadly, they evidently do. Although Kansas ranks third in the nation in meth
labs, the state was left completely off a list of 14 states eligible for
federal funds to clean up seized meth labs.

That's outlandish.

It appears to be purely politics, which is even more outrageous. If there
were some evidence that other states were doing a better job policing meth
labs, or some other reason that Kansas was found to be unworthy of federal
funding, that would be one thing. But it appears mere lack of congressional
clout is leaving Kansas law enforcement agencies out of the loop.

"Eleven of the 14 states that received money have members on the Senate
Appropriations Committee," says Erik Hotmire, an aide to Kansas Sen. Sam
Brownback.

So, Kansas apparently will get none of the $35 million earmarked for meth
lab cleanups.

What a shame. Perhaps because of the availability of places to hide here,
methamphetamines manufacturers have flocked to Kansas. The Kansas Bureau of
Investigation seized 511 labs in 1999, and may double that this year.
Shawnee County officials have been busy closing the labs down, too.

Banging down the door and handcuffing suspects is only the beginning, too.
Because of the toxic chemicals that result from "cooking" methamphetamines
- -- and the fact that most meth labs don't exactly follow OSHA regulations
to the letter -- it can take $5,000 to clean them up.

That's why the federal funding matter is so vital.

Generally, and to his great credit, Sen. Brownback eschews vying for what
he considers pork. But this is not pork. This is the leading law
enforcement problem in the country right now, and despite shouldering more
than its share of the burden, Kansas is being ignored when it comes to
finding and funding solutions.

Thankfully, Brownback has pledged to see what he can do to reverse the
funding gap.

If he's unsuccessful, and enforcement money pours all around and not into
Kansas, our problem is only going to get worse.