Pubdate: Tue, 28 Apr 1998
Source: Chicago Tribune 
Section: Metro Dupage
Contact:  

Website: http://www.chicago.tribune.com/ 
Author: Mike Dorning 

HASTERT CARRIES GOP FLAG IN WAR ON DRUGS 

WASHINGTON - The handiwork of suburban GOP Rep. Dennis Hastert will be 
on display this week as the Republican Party begins unveiling a series 
of anti-drug measures.

The headlines probably will be grabbed by show "drug-free" 
initiatives, like "drug-free Congress" legislation, requiring random 
drug tests of elected representatives and their staffs.

But the broader plan will reflect the priorities of Hastert, a 
less-than-flamboyant lawmaker who has focused on drug issues for years 
and was chosen by Republican leaders to coordinate the campaign.

Look for Hastert's influence particularly in a stepped-up emphasis on 
drug interdiction and border controls.

The GOP plan will call for the hiring of thousands of additional 
border guards and a major commitment to deploy technologically 
advanced equipment that can "sweep" luggage for traces of illegal 
drugs, a congressional staff member said.

Hastert also has been musing about triple-fencing parts of the Mexican 
border, sure to be diplomatically troublesome but politically popular.

The Republican plan would view drug education and prevention programs 
more skeptically, putting them under close scrutiny to show a tight 
focus on anti-drug messages or measurable results in lowering 
narcotics use.

Drug abuse awareness programs, including the politically popular DARE 
(Drug Abuse Resistance Education), have come in for criticism for 
ranging too far from their purpose in places.

How the program will fare is open to question, with Republican leaders 
recently signaling they will use a hard stand on drugs to fend off 
criticism they are too soft on cigarette-makers.

Intertwining the plan with the politically charged tobacco settlement 
can cause only trouble during an election year. But Hastert, a 
committed partisan, argues, "There is a real nexus with tobacco. I 
think we'll get it all passed."

INOCULATION: Hastert also inserted himself into the last-minute 
behind-the-scenes struggle within the Clinton administration last 
weekend over federal funding of needle exchange programs for drug 
addicts to prevent the spread of AIDS.

Tipped by staffers of drug czar Barry McCaffrey, who strongly opposes 
federal funding for such programs, Hastert warned President Clinton 
off in a meeting the two had during the "Summit of the Americas" in 
Chile which Hastert was attending as the lead congressional delegate 
on drug policy.

The lawmakers office also pre-empted a planned administration 
announcement Monday with press releases whipping up opposition to 
needle exchanges. The administration, in a last minute flip-flop, came 
out against funding Monday.

"I think I got his attention," Hastert said.