BILLS AIM TO REDUCE PRODUCTION AND USE OF METHAMPHETAMINE

It's A Major Problem In North

A number of lawmakers and state law enforcement officials are working
together and separately on bills that would limit access to key
components of methamphetamine, which has become a serious problem in
northern Wisconsin.

"It's kind of a hot topic right now," said Cindy Giese, special agent
in charge of the state's meth task force, based in Altoona. "I'm
trying to get everybody to work together so we can get the best
legislation possible."

Among the possibilities:

Rep. Dave Travis, D-Waunakee, already has proposed legislation that
would remove cold medications containing pseudoephedrine, a key
ingredient used to make meth, from store shelves.

A group of northwestern Wisconsin legislators, led by Sen. Sheila
Harsdorf, R-River Falls, is working with law enforcement officials on
another bill.

Reps. Rob Kreibich, R-Eau Claire, and Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, are
working on their own legislation.

The state Justice Department is joining with other legislators to
draft a separate bill intended to slow the spread of the highly
addictive drug across Wisconsin.

All of the attention comes as welcome news to Eau Claire County
Sheriff Ron Cramer, who has seen meth destroy lives and increase crime.

While the biggest problems have come in St. Croix, Polk and Pierce
counties, Eau Claire police records show meth-related arrests more
than quadrupled there from 11 in 2003 to 47 in 2004.

"It's high time the Legislature works with law enforcement to address
the state's methamphetamine problem," Cramer said.

While details of the bills aren't worked out yet, it's clear that all
of the proposals would involve putting some restrictions on products
with pseudoephedrine.

"Making pseudoephedrine less accessible would be very helpful because
that's the key ingredient you need to make methamphetamine," Giese
said.

Suder, chairman of the Assembly's Criminal Justice and Homeland
Security Committee, said he hopes legislators can work together to
combine the proposals into a comprehensive package.

"We want to get something in place that really is going to help,"
Suder said.

Legislators will have to debate just how restrictive to make the bill,
he said. "We don't want to cut off access to cold medicine, but we do
want to cut off the supplies of those who buy these products in bulk
and use it to kill other people by making methamphetamine."