Pubdate: Fri, 18 Oct 2002
Source: United Press International (Wire)
Copyright: 2002 United Press International
Author: Cliff Schecter
Note: Cliff Schecter is a public affairs writer and political consultant 
who lives and works in Washington.

FAILING ON DRUGS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - During his unexpectedly rough and tumble battle in the 
Republican presidential primary race against Sen. John McCain of Arizona, 
Texas Gov. George W. Bush metamorphosed from a William McKinley Republican 
into a "Reformer with Results."

Bush nevertheless continued to oppose the landmark McCain-Feingold Campaign 
Finance Reform bill, leading McCain to wryly comment, "If Governor Bush is 
a reformer then I'm an astronaut."

While Bush as president eventually signed the bill, it was only after much 
hemming and hawing. That he signed it all was most likely due to White 
House adviser Karl Rove's keen eye on the political map.

With this in mind, it only seems appropriate that Ohio, the state that 
launched the political career of astronaut John Glenn, presents the latest 
example of a political legacy - a member of the venerable Taft family - 
opposing common sense and overdue reform.

Gov. Bob Taft, a Republican, is using his political clout to oppose a drug 
sentencing reform effort known as Issue One.

This proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution, which will be on the 
ballot on Nov. 5, would send first and second time drug users to treatment 
centers instead of jail.

This potential state amendment should make sense to anyone who has been 
paying attention to the war on drugs over the last 20 years. This misguided 
crusade has been about as successful as the war in Vietnam.

More than 2 million American are in prison for drug-related offenses. The 
nation relies on mandatory minimum sentences for small-time users, allowing 
judges the same discretion in sentencing as traffic cops.

Ironically, the movie "Traffic," which weaves a number of tales into a 
story of the failure inherent in our drug policies, is largely set in 
Taft's home city of Cincinnati.

Issue One will do what the voters have opted to do in Arizona and 
California: reform an out-of-control and inefficient criminal justice 
system that ruins lives through the stigma of a prison record, costs 
taxpayers a staggering amount of money, and puts drug users in jail with 
hardened criminals so they can better learn their trade.

While talking a good game about solving the state's drug problem, Ohio 
under Taft's leadership has one of the worst records when it comes to 
spending on drug treatment.

Taft has slashed the budget for treatment services to pre-inaugural levels, 
helping Ohio attain the dubious honor of ranking among the worst states in 
America in per-capita funding for drug treatment services.

Long waiting lists for drug users seeking treatment are once again the 
norm, according to a report by the state's lead agency for drug treatment.

As Ed Orlett, Issue One's campaign director puts it, "Anyone who looks 
honestly at the statistics has to realize Ohio is not doing enough to 
provide drug treatment. The consequence of this failure is more widespread 
addiction and criminality, and far higher prison budgets."

Taft himself makes the best argument for passing Issue One, which 
guarantees direct funding for treatment and rehabilitation programs for 
seven fiscal years through 2009.

When left to politicians with political agendas, one can expect that tax 
cuts or other goodies will always be prioritized ahead of treating those 
suffering from the scourge of drug addiction.

A report by Alan Johnson in the Sept. 26 edition of the state's Columbus 
Dispatch notes Ohio taxpayers would save $109 million dollars over these 
seven fiscal years by spending on treatment as opposed to incarceration. 
Aren't conservatives like Taft supposed to like smaller government? The 
possibility exists that two state prisons could be closed, leading to 
further savings.

Taft's Democrat opponent, Cuyahoga County, Ohio Commissioner Tim Hagan, has 
endorsed Issue One so, hopefully, this important measure can be the subject 
of meaningful debate in the closing days of the campaign.
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