HELMKE SAYS SOUDER DRUG LAW FLAWED

Rep. Mark Souder is off base in working to deny loans to college students
with drug records, Paul Helmke said Friday.

"It doesn't make sense," Helmke told about 200 students at Bishop Luers
High School at a debate of the candidates for the Republican nomination for
the 3rd District congressional seat.

Souder did not attend because his flight from Washington Thursday night was
delayed and rerouted. In addition to Helmke, candidate William Larsen spoke
to the students.

In response to a question about the student aid legislation, Helmke said it
was poorly written and based on a flawed idea.

In 1998 Souder ushered legislation through Congress to withhold federally
backed financial aid for students with drug convictions.

"If individuals want to get benefits from other taxpayers - specifically,
subsidized student loans - then they have obligations that go with it. It's
a privilege, not a right," he said at the time.

Souder's bill to deny aid for a year, two years or forever - depending on
whether the conviction was for selling drugs or possessing them unless the
student completed drug rehab - was adopted by Congress as part of a larger
education bill. No one raised any objections, and the proposal passed on a
voice vote.

"Obviously, we want to discourage drugs," Helmke said. "Obviously, people
shouldn't be doing drugs. But if you get caught doing drugs and go through
the criminal justice system, that's where your punishment is meted out. It
doesn't make sense to say you can be a rapist or a burglar and if you've
served your time, it's OK to get scholarships. But if you get convicted for
having marijuana, boom, you lose your scholarship.

"Our focus should be on prevention, on treatment, on getting people who
have had drug problems out of using drugs. The best way to do that is to go
to college," he said.

Souder argued against that point a few hours later at a joint appearance
sponsored by the Allen County Women's Republican Club.

Souder said he is working to correct the way the Clinton and Bush
administrations implemented his law. He said he intended the penalties be
applied to enrolled college students who are convicted of drug offenses,
but the Education Department says the law's language applies to anyone who
applies for a student loan.

Under that interpretation, adults returning to college who were convicted
of a drug offense years ago face restrictions on getting loans.

"We're working on an amendment to fix the one interpretation question, but,
ultimately, people who are convicted of a drug crime should not get funded
by those who cannot afford to go to college," Souder said.

Last-minute contributions

Also Friday, Souder received $6,500 in last-minute contributions. Within 20
days of an election, candidates are required to report donations of $1,000
or more within 48 hours of receiving them.

Souder received $2,500 from the National Association of Home Builders, and
$1,000 apiece from the National Association of Realtors, Textron, American
Trucking Association and the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Helmke received $1,000 from attorney W.T. Hopkins.