BARTON ATTEMPTS TO FORCE DRUG TESTING VOTE

Ticked off at Conference Chairman John Boehner (R-Ohio), Rep. Joe Barton
(R-Texas) is circulating a petition designed to force Republicans leaders
to schedule a vote by Friday afternoon that would institute mandatory,
random drug testing for Members of Congress and their staff.

At press time, Barton was scrambling to convince 50 GOP Members to sign a
petition that would require the entire Republican Conference to meet today
to discuss drug testing before a final vote would be set, presumably on
Friday.

However, several GOP leadership sources said a vote will not take place
this week, if ever.

Barton said he was forced to circulate the petition after Boehner refused
to follow through on a promise made by Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga) to hold
a vote on drug testing before the August recess.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan