SHARPTON TO PROTEST DRUG LAWS

The penalty for not fighting for Rockefeller Drug Law reforms: The Rev. Al
Sharpton knocking on your door. The dapper downstater wants an explanation
from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver about why the Manhattan Democrat isn't
pushing for reforms to the tough drug penalties.

Rev. Al is now planning protests in Manhattan. Sharpton intends to speak
out against Silver's inaction on the drug laws, and blast Gov. George
Pataki for what he believes is a less-than-satisfactory call for change.

Protests outside Silver's district office at 237 Broadway in Manhattan are
tentatively planned for this week by the William Moses Kunstler Foundation.

"If he doesn't come through soon, we're going to protest throughout the
year,'' said organizer Randy Credico. "Silver's really put an obstacle in
front of us. He's throttling democracy here.'' Silver aides say they aren't
aware of Sharpton's concerns with the Democratic leader.

James Wetzler, New York's tax commissioner during the Cuomo administration,
is having a difficult time winning favor in the Republican-controlled U.S.
Senate. The 11 GOP Senate Finance committee members don't understand why
President Clinton wants Wetzler on the new, nine-member IRS oversight
board. Reason: Wetzler, now working at the New York City office of Deloitte
& Touche LLP, opposed the board's creation. He declines comment.

Why were John Faso and Pat Casale among the only four Assemblymen -- all
from the GOP -- voting against a bill last week whose goal was to make
cigarettes self-extinguishing? Promoted by firefighters, the bill passed in
the Assembly 137-4. But Faso and two other high-ranking members of the
fund-raising arm of the Assembly GOP risked the appearance of not wanting
to offend campaign donors from the tobacco industry. Democrat Alexander
Grannis, who worked to get the bill passed, risked being seen as in the
pocket of lighter manufacturers. Faso's spokesman said the minority leader
didn't see the measure as being practical.

And why was Jack McEneney the only member of the 17-member Assembly Codes
Committee to vote against the so-called Kendra's Law, the bill that would
require involuntary commitment of mentally ill people who don't take their
medications? "It needs more safeguards to make sure the bill doesn't harass
the mentally ill,'' he said, admitting that mental health lobbyists
convinced him the bill needs modifications.

Aides to Gov. George Pataki say they saw it: A dark van bearing the
markings of the New York State Assembly letting out some people to join the
CSEA protesters picketing Pataki at a ground-breaking ceremony in Albany.
Assembly Democrats and Civil Service Employees Association spokesmen say
they know nothing of such a drop-off. Says Patricia Lynch, Silver's
spokeswoman: "The Assembly shuttle was not on that street. We are not that
stupid; whoever saw it from the governor's office was having a delusion.''