Pubdate: Tue, 09 May 2000 Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) Copyright: 2000 Richmond Newspapers Inc. Contact: P.O. Box 85333, Richmond, VA 23293 Fax: (804) 775-8072 Feedback: http://www.gatewayva.com/feedback/totheeditor.shtml Website: http://www.timesdispatch.com/ Author: Tyler Whitley ALLEN PUSHES 'DRUG EXILE' He Wants To Raise Penalties For Crimes Republican senatorial hopeful George Allen proposed yesterday a federal Project Drug Exile program that would increase penalties and add federal prosecutors to cut down on drug crimes. If more prisons need to be built to house the drug criminals, then they should be built, Allen said, after a luncheon address that laid out his anti-crime agenda. "I am more convinced than ever that we must do everything we can to keep illegal drugs from dimming or destroying our youngsters' bright futures," the former Virginia governor told members of the Kiwanis Club of Richmond. He said drug use among youngsters is increasing. U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb, the Democratic incumbent whom Allen is trying to unseat, spoke to the same group two weeks ago. "One of government's most fundamental responsibilities is to protect the safety of law-abiding citizens -- not to make excuses for criminals," Allen said. As part of his anti-drug program, Allen proposed increasing resources to stop illegal drugs at the border, treatment for those who have begun experimenting with drugs and the establishment of a National Council on Drug Awareness to deliver an anti-drug message. His "Project Drug Exile," modeled after Virginia's Project Exile for illegal guns, would provide an additional $35 million to hire more federal prosecutors and enforcement agents. He would double the mandatory minimum sentence for those convicted of selling drugs to minors and raise the penalty for illegal posession of a firearm and drugs. Allen also wants to offer bounties of up to $10,000 to those who turn in drug kingpins. Answering questions from reporters after the speech, Allen said he had never used illegal drugs, although he said that did not include the underage use of alcohol. In his speech, he offered no criticism of Robb, but afterward said "the Clinton-Gore-Robb crew" offered no moral authority to combat drugs. He did not answer when asked whether Robb's reported attendance at drug parties during the late 1980s lessened his moral authority. He suggested that Robb, in reaction to a civil rights report that found that federal sentencing guidelines for powder and crack cocaine discriminated against minorities, voted to lower the penalties for crack dealers. Allen said the answer is to increase the penalty for crimes associated with powder cocaine, Ecstasy and methamphetamines. Jim Mulhall, Robb's campaign manager, said Robb, in fact, had sponsored legislation to raise the penalty for powder cocaine sales. He voted against it once when it was attached to a bankruptcy bill, Mulhall said. And, he said, Allen's commitment to fighting drugs appears to be new, because, as a congressman in 1991, "when George Allen had more than moral authority, he had a vote," he voted against a bill providing substantial new funding for anti-drug efforts. Tim Murtaugh, Allen's press spokesman, said a large part of Allen's reputation rests on being tough on crime. The bill he voted against was part of the Brady bill, which would require a waiting period before the purchase of a handgun, Murtaugh said. Allen opposed that provision. Surrogates for Robb also took after Allen earlier in the day on another drug issue. In this case, state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, D-Richmond, and Democratic activist William Egelhoff said Allen tax-cut proposals would leave no money to pay for prescription drugs for senior citizens through the Medicare program. Robb and other Senate Democrats are proposing a $3,000 annual cap on senior citizens' out-of-pocket prescription expenses. A Robb proposal would set aside $40 billion over five years to subsidize the prescription drug benefits. Allen said he favors a competing Republican plan that provides government subsidies for new prescription drug policies to be sold by health insurance companies.