From the Associated Press
(Ed. note: While I am frequently critical of the AP, I feel
genuinely sorry for those staffers who have to cover the Congress. They must become very
cynical.)June 4, 1998
See Representative
Peter DeFazio Writes A Marvelous Letter to Rep. Joe Barton
About Testing House Staff For "Drugs."
and
House Republicans
Want Random "Drug" Tests of All Representatives and Staff
"For Hearts and Minds Of America"
LAWMAKERS CALL FOR MANDATORY DRUG TESTING IN HOUSE
WASHINGTON (AP) –
All 435 House members and many on their staffs would be tested for drug use under a
bill introduced Thursday by two Republicans.
Reps. Gerald Solomon of New York (Ed. note: Solomon, the head of
the powerful House Rules Committee is retiring this year. He is one of the most
prohibitionist members of Congress.) and Joe Barton of Texas say there’s no
evidence of illegal drug use among their colleagues, but they believe random testing would
send a good message.
"Over half of all American workers are subject to some sort of drug testing, and
when you do have drug testing, one thing that’s true in every case is illegal drug
use goes down," Barton said.
If passed, the bill would become a House rule and would not apply to the Senate. House
Republicans tried to pass a similar measure about two years ago but were blocked by the
Democrats.
The outcome of the lawmakers’ drug tests would be published every two years.
Solomon said he believes Congress should impose drug testing to set an
"unmistakable example" and show that lawmakers are serious about fighting drug
abuse.
"Illegal drug use in America is so, so serious," said Solomon. "It is
literally threatening another generation of Americans."
Several members of Congress said privately they think the measure is insulting and
unnecessary, but said they’ll probably vote for it nonetheless for political reasons.
(Ed. note: They support marijuana prohibition for the same reasons.
Now their cowardice will threaten their own privacy.)
Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., has opposed mandatory drug testing in the past
and will continue to do so.
"Members are free to test themselves and their staffs at any time and several
offices have already instituted their own policies," said Gephardt spokesman Erik
Smith. "Mr. Gephardt doesn’t think a sweeping mandate should be placed on the
House."
Members of Congress who failed drug tests could not be fired from the House, but the
results would be made available to voters and offenders would be referred to the Ethics
Committee.
Members would not be tested for alcohol abuse.
"I believe you can tell when a person is intoxicated. They have a smell about
them," said Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, a cosponsor of the measure. "With drugs
you cannot tell."
Supported