TEPID RESPONSE

Feds Still Ignoring Meth Epidemic

The Bush Administration finally responded the other day to
congressional charges that it was ignoring methamphetamine abuse
around the country.

But the response was inadequate to the challenge.

Last week, three high-level administration officials traveled to a
drug court in Nashville, Tenn., to express their concerns about the
problem and offer solutions.

"The scourge of methamphetamine demands unconventional thinking and
innovative solutions to fight the devastation it leaves behind,"
declared Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, "I have directed U.S.
attorneys to make prosecution of methamphetamine-related crimes a
priority and seek the harshest penalties," he added.

Also on hand were White House Office of Drug Control Policy John
Walters and Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. They
announced $1 million for anti-meth ads, $16.2 million for treatment
grants over three years and a Web site about the drug.

Members of Congress were not impressed.

Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., has held hearings critical of the
administration's reluctance to combat meth. "We're looking for a
scream not a peep," he said. The recommendations added nothing new,
Mr. Souder charged.

Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., a clinical psychologist, looked on the
bright side by saying that it was good to hear the administration
saying something about meth. But he noted that federal aid for law
enforcement and drug treatment programs has been cut by hundreds of
millions of dollars a year.

This year, the White House sought to reduce aid to local police forces
by $1 billion, but lawmakers were able to salvage $360 million.

Mr. Souder called the $1 million for anti-meth ads "nothing." He noted
the White House has already passed $25 million for meth in the
upcoming appropriations bill.

By its tepid response, the administration has signaled its lack of
interest in a problem that is plaguing much of rural America.