Sen. McCaskill Denies METH a problem in Missouri

When Clair was County Prosecutor here in Jackson County didn't she tell us that Jackson County was the METH capital of the United States? I believe she did, and she used that fact to sell us on the need for a special sales tax that she planned on using to expand the fight against METH.

Now since Sen. McCaskill didn't not request continued funding for Missouri's MoSMART anti-meth program, does that mean that the Meth Problem is under control now in Missouri, or does it mean that no amount of money will help, or most likely Sen. McCaskill would rather make that claim that she hasn't asked for any entitlements for her constituents like the rest of the congress critters have.

MPNS has more on the story, Sen. McCaskill Denies Missouri Law Enforcement Critical Funding:

We told you last week about Sen. McCaskill getting a little national attention last week on the CBS Evening News. McCaskill bragged on the program that she was one of 12 Senators who did not request earmarks for FY 2007. On the surface, this declaration sounds great, we all know that earmark reform is a big issue in the Congress right now. But for McCaskill to not request continued funding for Missouri’s MoSMART anti-meth program is simply irresponsible. This program has been used effectively to protect Missouri families against the evils of the highly addictive drug.

McCaskill’s failure had led to Gov. Matt Blunt’s commitment to provide supplemental state funding for the Missouri Sheriff’s Methamphetamine Relief Team to make up for the lack of funding. The failure of McCaskill to fund these critical anti-meth efforts has led the governor to announce plans to provide $1.8 million in supplemental state funding to protect MoSMART.

“Claire McCaskill is obviously more interested in national media self-promotion than protecting essential federal funding for Missouri’s sheriffs who have spent years risking their lives in order to protect Missouri families from the scourge of methamphetamine,” said Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. “Claire McCaskill is more interested in protecting her own political interests rather than protecting the interests of our members of law enforcement who continue to wage an intense battle against this deadly and highly addictive drug.”

The governor’s budget request to supplement MoSMART will provide critical funding for 48 sheriff’s offices and drug task force employees around Missouri. Sen. Bond strongly objected to Democrats taking money away from Missouri law enforcement.

I certainly hope the METH war has been won, but I along with Sen. Bond believe that it has more to do with party politics than any progress on the drug war.

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