Judy Baker Tells Washington to Restore Anti-Meth Funding Cuts by Bush, Congress
Press Release
Calling cuts to drug task forces a "bi-partisan blunder,"
Baker will lead Missouri's fight against methamphetamine in Congress
Judy Baker, candidate for Congress from Missouri's Ninth District, stood up to Congress and President Bush today, demanding an end to cuts essential for Missouri's fight against methamphetamine a cause echoed by law enforcement personnel. Missouri has led the nation in meth lab seizures every year since 2001.
"The use and production of meth has been a destructive force in Missouri, but Washington thinks it is a problem that will just go away. That is why they cut support for the anti-meth programs by more than 60 percent and that is why I will go to Washington to restore funding that keeps our families safe," Baker said.
Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug to both produce and abuse. Missouri relies on federal funds to combat meth production and trafficking through regional drug task forces that crack down on dealers.
"The number of officers and other personnel cannot be reduced in this critical time. But that is exactly what this bi-partisan blunder will force to happen," Baker said. "I will act immediately to restore Missouri's fair share of these funds and raise the profile of this issue so Washington cannot ignore the crisis we face at home."
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grants are the only funding available that allow federal, state, county and local law enforcement officials to coordinate anti-methamphetamine initiatives, including information sharing and gang prevention that lead to methamphetamine lab seizures.
"If the current cuts remain the North Missouri Drug Task Force will be greatly handicapped if not totally eliminated. This will be a victory to all drug dealers in our area as well as across the state of Missouri," said Capt. Chris Brown, director of the North Missouri Drug Task Force. "The only people who will suffer will be the people in our own communities. Local law enforcement is already facing budget restraints within their own departments. With the elimination of the task force they will be even more overworked with only our citizens to pay the price."
Congress has already cut more than $350 million from the program nationally and President Bush has threatened to eliminate the program entirely. These cuts will severely restrict the task forces ability to maintain and conduct day-to-day business.
"Area law enforcement officials are concerned about the 67 percent funding cut to the Edward J. Byrne Justice Assistance Grant," Randolph County Sheriff Mark Nichols said. "This fund reduction will eliminate many drug task force units unless alternate funding is acquired. By eliminating these drug task forces, illegal drug activity that plagues our communities will increase."
According to law enforcement, Missouri could lose five of the eight drug task forces serving the Ninth Congressional District. The three remaining task forces would see substantial staffing reductions and program instability. This cut would impact prevention and education programs and the law enforcement's ability to plan and evaluate their work combating this criminal and public health issue.
Baker also said she will become a member of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine and she will work with law enforcement to develop new federal resources for counter-drug efforts.
Statistics on Methamphetamine in Missouri's Ninth Congressional District:
The drug task forces in Missouri's Ninth Congressional District and funded by the federal dollars being cut have made more methamphetamine lab seizures than any other congressional district in the state.
The Ninth Congressional District is home to 10 of the top 25 counties for anti-methamphetamine efforts and two of the top five counties (St. Charles and Franklin).
Curbing methamphetamine production is particularly important in the Ninth Congressional District. More than 68 percent of all methamphetamine labs are located in ordinary homes in rural and residential areas.
The Ninth District's interstate 44 and 70 continue to be major thoroughfares for trafficking Mexican methamphetamine by importation and distribution criminal enterprises operating out of the Southwest border of the United States.
The eight drug task forces serving the Ninth Congressional District are:
North Missouri (NOMO) Drug Task Force
East Central Drug Task Force
Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group
Franklin County Narcotics Enforcement Unit
Mid-Missouri Unified Strike Team and Narcotics Group (Mustang)
Mid-Missouri Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force
Northeast Missouri Narcotics Task Force
St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force
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