GOVERNOR SEEKS $50 MILLION FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Gov. John Kitzhaber made a new pitch for about
$50 million to support his plans to prevent juvenile crime and
substance abuse during a campaign appearance at the Portland Police
Memorial.

Mindful of budget constraints, Kitzhaber said he hopes to pay for the
new programs by taking the money out of existing ones.

Kitzhaber, a Democrat, accepted the endorsement of the police chiefs'
and sheriffs' associations, and 30 of the state's 36 district
attorneys, as he insisted that it is time "to get at the roots of
criminal activity."

Kitzhaber's crime-prevention proposals, contained in the second of
three "white papers" he intends to release during the campaign, were
dismissed as ineffective by Republican candidate Bill Sizemore.

"It's another one of the many examples of the governor thinking he can
solve problems by just throwing money at them," Sizemore said.

However, Kitzhaber said the sheriffs' and police chiefs' associations
have endorsed his juvenile-crime prevention efforts, as have the
League of Oregon Cities and the Associated Oregon Counties.

Kitzhaber has asked each to develop a plan reducing crime among 11- to
17-year-olds by using programs that have succeeded somewhere in Oregon
or in other states.

Kitzhaber was praised by such figures as Clackamas County Sheriff Ris
Bradshaw and Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schrunk, who said
he has worked well with local officials.

Kitzhaber said he has asked the Corrections Department to find $30
million in savings out of the 1999-2001 budget to pay for his
crime-prevention proposal.

Kitzhaber said he also is proposing to spend $3 million to $4 million
more on Head Start and on making a more concerted statewide effort to
deal with domestic and child abuse.

Kitzhaber was vague about his plans for expanding drug and alcohol
abuse programs, saying the Department of Human Resources still is
working on a plan to present to him.

Director Gary Weeks said his agency would present a $25 million plan,
but Kitzhaber said he is considering spending $10 million to $20 million.

Kitzhaber said he hopes to pay for the additional treatment by finding
savings in other human resources programs.

The human resources agency is spending about $70 million on treatment
programs in the 1997-99 budget cycle. The Corrections Department and
Oregon Youth Authority also have treatment programs for inmates.

However, Kitzhaber said the state is serving fewer than half the
people who seek treatment.

Speaking later to the National Community Policing Conference in
Portland, Kitzhaber told about 470 law enforcement officials that
Oregon had done enough to build new prisons.

"It's time to make the investment in prevention just as serious as the
investment we've made in punishment," he said.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry