Pubdate: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA) Copyright: 2006 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Contact: http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/letters/sendletter.html Website: http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28 Author: James Salzer $1 MILLION SOUGHT FOR METH FIGHT Perdue: Hike GBI Budget To Increase Task Force Size Gov. Sonny Perdue on Tuesday announced that he will ask lawmakers to include an extra $1 million in the budget to double the number of agents on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Meth Force. Perdue, who made the announcement during a news conference at the GBI's Canton Regional Drug Enforcement Office in Cherokee County, said he wants to double the number of agents investigating methamphetamine trafficking, production and distribution from 15 to 30. "Georgia is waging an effective battle against the scourge of methamphetamine with a strong local, state and federal coalition," Perdue said in a statement. "An additional 15 agents on the GBI Meth Force will double the state's efforts to combat meth and related crimes like burglaries, assaults and even homicides." The governor said he will recommend lawmakers approve the $1 million needed for the program in either the midyear fiscal 2007 budget or the fiscal 2008 budget, which begins July 1, 2007. Perdue has been working on methamphetamine problems in the state for several years. He signed bills to toughen criminal sentences against those in the methamphetamine business in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, he signed a bill requiring products with pseudoephedrine - a key ingredient of meth - as the sole active ingredient to be sold behind the counter of stores. He also held a summit in 2004 to make recommendations on how to stem the trade and use of methamphetamines. The governor's announcement was the latest in a series he's made in recent months as he runs for re-election. He also held a news conferences to announce an increase in the number of officials who will work to investigate people suspected of using fake documents to get driver's licenses. He's announced plans to eliminate state income taxes for retirees and to put dropout prevention counselors in middle schools. In each case, the announcements were followed by TV campaign ads. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine