Routine: Meeting an aide who was also the Legislative Director of the office this week, I asked if he knew of LEAP. “Sure.” He replied. The next 10 minutes I did little in the way of educating. The aide knew all the basic facts, the basic dynamics of the policy and its unintended consequences. At the end he remarked how this issue was not coming up any time soon. “I know.” I replied. ‘When it does come up, LEAP and I will be here.’

I walked away feeling satisfied that he already knew of LEAP. I was left wondering what year the change will begin in earnest.

Discouraging Moment: I attended a hearing of the full House Judiciary Committee on whether to approve an ‘emergency’ 400 million dollar aide package to local police to arrest drug dealers. I listened as 6 of my colleagues in law enforcement testified that the sky would fall in as their areas would arrest far fewer drug dealers, if they did not receive the money.

A staffer of every member of the Judiciary has received a LEAP presentation, which among other items, emphasizes the futility of arresting drug dealers large and small. Each has received a copy of the DEA pamphlet which states that: “Drugs are readily available to America’s youth…”

Not one of the 40 odd members of the committee asked the most important question (IMO): ‘Is it not true that all drug dealers arrested are quickly replaced? If that is so, what is the point in giving you more money to arrest more?’ The questions & comments from the Congressmen reminded me of a love fest, not a serious discussion of the issue.

Heavy sigh….back to work on Tuesday.

PS. Several of you wrote a few weeks back that I sounded discouraged and urged me to continue. Of course I am discouraged from time to time. Failure, however, is not an option. I will work on this bastard of a policy until it is in the history books or I draw my last breath. Not to worry.

Bookmark/Search this post with:

digg | reddit