DRUG TREATMENT SHOULD TRUMP POLITICS TO STOP GILMORE'S VETO

Virginia elected officials should stop playing political games with
desperately needed drug treatment.

First, the General Assembly cut some $6 million from Gov. Jim
Gilmore's plan to treat more adults and juveniles convicted of
drug-related crimes.

That was bad enough.

Now Gilmore is threatening to veto $5 million set aside by the
Assembly for community substance abuse programs for the poor. The
governor's complaint is that the money would be delivered through the
federal Medicaid system.

Gilmore apparently is willing to sacrifice both the state
appropriation and another $5.4 million that it would draw from
Washington because of his distaste for the federal, low-income health
care program.

Will he really put process ahead of human lives? A veto would be a
slap in the face to the many Virginians who've fought for years to
rescue low-income individuals and their families from the crippling
effects of alcohol and drugs.

And is Gilmore ignoring the fact that these community-based programs
can help prevent crimes that land individuals in the governor's drug
treatment program for offenders?

Virginia needs to address problems of substance abuse on multiple
fronts. A low-income substance abuser or addict shouldn't have to
commit a crime to get help. Once incarcerated, he shouldn't be
returned to society without at least some effort to treat his abuse
problem or addiction.

Lawmakers who reduced money for Gilmore's drug treatment plan said
they wanted to phase in the appropriation. They should be held to
their word. Full funding next year is a must.

Meanwhile, the governor should recognize that saving lives is more
critical than preventing a small expansion of the federal Medicaid
program. Many of his fellow Republicans recognize this point.

If Gilmore insists on a veto, lawmakers should override it.