PANEL OKS BUSH'S DRUG-POLICY CHOICE

WASHINGTON ­­ (Associated Press) John Walters' nomination to lead President
Bush's national drug policy is on its way to the full Senate for approval,
despite opposition from top Democrats on a Senate committee.

Walters' nomination was sent on to the Senate floor by the Senate Judiciary
Committee by a 14-5 vote.

Top Democrats on the committee voting against his nomination included
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont and former chairmen
Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Joseph Biden of Delaware. Also voting
against Walters were Democratic Sens. Richard Durbin of Illinois and
Charles Schumer of New York.

Walters served as acting White House drug policy director in 1993 but quit
when President Clinton announced a reorientation of anti-narcotics policy
to de-emphasize law enforcement and interdiction.

He attacked the Clinton administration's anti-narcotics advertising
campaigns and advocated severe prison sentences for marijuana smugglers and
repeat offenders.

While he took a softer line after his nomination, "he is ideological in a
time when our efforts to prevent drug abuse call for cooperation and
pragmatism," Leahy said.

While other Democrats agreed, they said it wasn't enough to vote against
Walters. "The standard for voting against a Cabinet member has not been
met," said Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.

Republicans pointed out that Walters was one of the last unconfirmed
Cabinet members, and that his position as "drug czar" could be potentially
important in fighting drug use in the country. Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.,
pointed out that Democrats confirmed Attorney General John Ashcroft's
nomination despite harboring doubts about how Ashcroft would use the position.

"I would hope we could give Mr. Walters the same benefit of the doubt," Kyl
said.