CONGRESSMAN: NEW FUNDING PRIORITIES INCLUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT

U.S. Rep. Marion Berry, the Democrat representing Arkansas' First
District, discussed issues as varied as law enforcement and access to
water with about 20 local officials and residents in a forum Tuesday
morning at the Baxter County Courthouse.

Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery told Berry he appreciated the
congressman's effort to increase funding to law enforcement through
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants and Byrne grants.

Law-enforcement grant funding had been cut by the previous
Legislature, especially Byrne grants, which go toward anti-drug efforts.

President Bush's Office of Management and Budget has proposed more
cuts to the Byrne Grant program for this year's budget. On the other
hand, congressional Democrats have called for adding to Byrne-grant
funding, which has been cut by more than $200 million in the last two
years, according to Berry.

Organizations pushing for smaller government such as Americans for Tax
Reform and Citizens Against Government Waste, as well as anti-drug war
groups like the Drug Policy Alliance, are in favor of more cuts to, or
the complete elimination of, the program.

Montgomery said a five-county area including Baxter County had five
drug task forces before the funding cuts but now is down to two. He
said the task forces are instrumental in fighting methamphetamine
trafficking and abuse.

The law enforcement grants were just one aspect of budgeting that
Berry said will be influenced by the changing dynamics of Washington
due to the election of a Democratic majority in Congress.

Berry and Montgomery also talked about the need for control of the
border.

"We don't have control of it, and that's dangerous," Berry
said.

Berry said he opposes amnesty for undocumented workers already living
in the country.

Montgomery said three undocumented Hispanic men apprehended by his
deputies had to be released a few weeks ago. The federal agency
responsible for immigration law enforcement informed the deputies that
the men, who had not broken any Arkansas laws, should be fingerprinted
and released.

Democrats also plan to increase funding for veterans, higher education
grants and transportation, Berry said.

On transportation, Berry said some federal money was available for
expanding U.S. Highway 62/412 to four lanes from Mountain Home east to
Ash Flat, but local officials also should continue asking for state
money to fund the estimated $1 billion project.

"We're going to keep putting more money into (U.S. Highway) 412,"
Berry said.

Another transportation issue broached at the meeting was Ozark
Regional Airport's need for a carrier for commercial flights. Berry
told Richard Sheid, chairman of the airport commission, that he thinks
perseverance in pursuing commercial flights will pay off.

Baxter County Judge Dan Hall talked to Berry about the need for a
written agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assuring
Mountain Home and other Baxter County towns of access to water from
Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes.

Hall said that while enough drinking water is available now,
population growth and a plan to pump water from Bull Shoals Lake to
Marshall residents are reasons to think about future water access.

Berry said existing laws should protect Baxter County's access to
water from the Twin Lakes. He also said he would try to help get a
written agreement.

U.S. Congressman Marion Berry (D-Ark.) talks Tuesday to a group of
area leaders and concerned citizens during a roundtable discussion at
the Baxter County Courthouse. Berry talked about obtaining more
funding for U.S. Highway 62/412 expansion, as well as other issues
concerning the Twin Lakes Area.

A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Marion Berry, D-Arkansas, said he decided
to lengthen his stay in the Twin Lakes Area through this afternoon.

Berry has a scheduled meeting with members of the U.S. Forestry
Service at 10 a.m. today. The planned topic is proposed rules limiting
All-Terrain-Vehicle (ATV) use on some trails in Ozark-St. Francis
National Forest.

Around noon, he plans to meet with the Kiwanis Club of Mountain Home
at Western Sizzlin in the Ramada Inn.