The San Jose Mercury News
Figures Out The Kind Of Dope Test Really Needed In Congress
San Jose Mercury News letters@sjmercury.com
http://www.sjmercury.com/
March 30, 1998
DRUG TEST EDITORIAL
Putting Congress on the front lines of the drug war
CONGRESSIONAL Republicans are backing a plan to require random drug testing of House
members and their staffs: Four to six times per year, one quarter of representatives and
staffers would be required to urinate for a drug-free America.
The House already has voted for random drug-testingif majority and minority
leaders go along. So far, Democratic leader Richard Gephardt has blocked implementation,
saying its unnecessary.
Traditionally, alcohol is the drug of choice for Congress members, and theres no
evidence the Capitol has turned into a dope den.
But theres some merit in forcing national lawmakers to experience the loss of
privacy and liberties required to fight the drug war. For the full effect, the new plan
should include drug-sniffing dogs nuzzling briefcases, confiscation of "excess"
cash that might be the proceeds of illegal transactions, no-knock raids on congressional
hideaways, mandatory minimum sentences to pressure "little fish" to implicate
"big fish" and undercover agents setting up "buys" of poppy-seed
bagels.
But heres a better idea: Random IQ tests.