FORMING TASK FORCE WOULD ONLY WAYLAY BATTLE AGAINST METH PROBLEM

Forming a special task force at the legislative level to address a growing
methamphetamine problem is only waylaying the inevitable, according to Rep.
Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma. Matheny expressed his disappointment Tuesday
about how a joint state House-Senate committee on methamphetamine
legislation agreed to call on Gov. Phil Bredesen to form the task force
rather than fund $7.5 million for lengthier jail terms to combat
methamphetamine abuse.

Matheny said it is common knowledge meth abuse has become an epidemic in
rural areas with Franklin County among the state's leading problem areas.

He said studying what is already blatantly obvious is delaying action that
could begin to reverse methamphetamine's negative trend.

By studying it, the issue will remain idle for at least another year,
Matheny said.

"It could take 18 months to two years before the first punch is thrown," he
said, referring to passing legislation that would strengthen meth laws.

Matheny said the penalties for abusing meth should be strengthened to a
point where possession would become a class B felony, instead of class C,
which would make the drug's abuse on an equal par with cocaine.

More severe penalties mean a step toward correcting the problem, he said.

Matheny said he is also in favor of strengthening laws for meth abusers who
have children in areas where labs are found.

The ad hoc committee, which has recommended that the governor form the task
force, is headed by Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis.

Metheny said Cohen and other legislators from urban areas don't place the
same emphasis on the meth problem as rural areas do.

"With all due respect, they don't have the same problem," Matheny said.

Matheny and Sen. Charlotte Burks, D-Monterey, have often spoke at meetings
on the meth issue because they represent rural areas where they say abuse
has gotten out of hand.

They said a year's wait to do anything about an escalating problem will be
harmful.

"We realize that by doing nothing we will be assured that the epidemic
expands from 43 counties to 95 counties unabated," Matheny said.

Mrs. Burks echoed Matheny's assessment in a story that appeared in the
Nashville press.

"I'm just so disappointed," she said. "I don't know why we have to see the
whole state involved before we decide to get something done."

While committee members agreed any comprehensive plan will cost millions,
they couldn't find a way to fund the proposals during their meetings in the
past five weeks.

Lydia Lenker, press secretary for Bredesen, said a task force could be a
strong first step in combating meth abuse because proper legislation can be
developed and funding can be responsibly accomplished.