Pubdate: Tue, 01 Mar 2016
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2016 Associated Press
Contact: http://services.bostonglobe.com/news/opeds/letter.aspx?id=6340
Website: http://bostonglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Alan Fram, Associated Press

BIPARTISAN DRUG ABUSE BILL FACES SENATE FIGHT OVER MONEY

WASHINGTON (AP) - An election-year Senate fight is brewing over a 
bipartisan bill targeting heroin and opioid abuse that Democrats say 
needs another ingredient: more money.

Senators voted, 89 to 0, Monday to begin considering the legislation, 
setting the stage for a showdown over an amendment by Senator Jeanne 
Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, providing $600 million in 
immediate antidrug spending.

Her proposal seems doomed for defeat by Republicans, who control the 
chamber and say Congress has already approved plenty of money for 
such programs that remains unspent.

"It seems to be part of the message, 'Give us what we want or we 
might hijack a bipartisan bill that would literally save lives,' " 
No. 2 Senate GOP leader John Cornyn of Texas said of Democrats.

Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat and a supporter of the 
extra funds, said money was needed "to stem this tide" of abuse, 
adding, "This cannot be a partisan issue."

The dispute echoes long-running partisan spending fights. This year, 
the bill comes as Republicans are hoping they can tout passage of the 
campaign-season measure as an accomplishment that shows they are 
addressing local problems.

The legislation has also reached the Senate floor as the GOP attempts 
to change the subject from its effort to stonewall any Supreme Court 
nomination made by President Obama to fill the vacancy created by the 
Feb. 13 death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

The antidrug measure is sponsored by senators Sheldon Whitehouse, a 
Rhode Island Democrat, and Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom