VOLUME No: 46 Issue No: 2

Washington, D.C. February 14, 2003

President Bush Proposes 11.7 Billion for Drug Control and Prevention Programs

Following up on his pledge in his State of the Union, President Bush’s budget for fiscal year 2004 proposes 11.7 billion dollars for Drug Control and Prevention programs. The most important new addition to next years budget is $600 million for the creation of voucher-treatment plans, expanding access to substance-abuse programs. There are over 5.7 million Americans that qualify for treatment, but for a variety of reasons they do not receive it. This new voucher initiative would make it easier for addicts to find state-sanctioned treatment programs. The budget also asks for $2.1 billion to combat the creation of illicit drugs overseas. This is an increase of 7.3 percent from the 2003 budget. The third prong of the administration’s attack comes from prevention and education. These three methods seek to eliminate both the demand and supply of drugs coming into the US.

Senate Deadlock on Estrada Confirmation Continues

The stalemate over nomination of Miguel Estrada went on late last night as Democrats Filibustered the vote on Estrada. The Debate went beyond midnight and both parties didn’t budge on their stance. Democrats still contend that Estrada has not given enough information for them to make a decision. Republicans stood by Estrada. Over 40 Senator stayed out through the night supporting the nomination. Some even took the stand to show their relentlessness. The Standoff resembled the civil rights filibusters of congress’ past as the debate over Estrada died out and Democrats brought up topics raging from the war on terror to health care. Sen. Hillary Clinton even brought up the subject of what the framers intended by the “advice and consent” role of the senate to prolong the deadlock into the late night.

Judiciary Committee Approves Cloning Ban

The House Judiciary committee approved legislation to ban all forms of cloning yesterday in 19-12 party line vote. The bill will now go to the floor for a vote on Feb. 24th. There is almost unanimous consent among the House for a ban on reproductive cloning but there is a greater debate over “Therapeutic Cloning”. Supporters of Therapeutic Cloning say that the stem cells from such procedures could cure many diseases but that procedure would require a creation of an embryo and then the destruction of it soon after the stem cells are extracted. That fact has made Republicans support the ban on all forms of cloning. This debate has similarities to the abortion debate of when life begins. Democrats tried to offer an amendment to allow therapeutic cloning but the motion was defeated.