Pubdate: Wed, 14 Nov 2007
Source: Hill, The (US DC)
Copyright: 2007 The Hill
Contact:  http://www.hillnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1509
Author: Betsy Rothstein
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Mark+Souder
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act)

GROUPS OBJECT TO SOUDER DRUG COMMENT

Two national groups that help recovering alcoholics and drug addicts 
are asking Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) to retract his description of 
them as "drug legalization groups."

In a Nov. 1 "Dear Colleague" letter, Souder described the National 
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the International 
Nurses Society on Addictions, which oppose a Souder bill that would 
penalize students convicted of using drugs, as favoring drug legalization.

In the letter, Souder defended his bill, and told other members it 
was "facing assault by a small but determined coalition of 
drug-legalization groups."

The two groups fired back in a letter issued Monday. "We, the 
undersigned, want to make clear that opposition to the Aid 
Elimination Penalty is not in any way dependent on support for broad 
drug legalization," the letter said.

"We oppose the Aid Elimination Penalty for numerous reasons. It 
primarily punishes poor students who rely on scholarships."

The 17 groups that signed the letter include the Council on 
Alcoholism and the nurses group, as well as the American Federation 
of Teachers and the Coalition of Essential Schools. The letter 
concluded by asking Souder for a meeting to "discuss the issue 
further, in the hope of finding common ground."

Souder's press office did not return calls asking whether the 
lawmaker would agree to such a meeting. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake