HaCKeRz KrOnIcKLeZ 3/HaCKeRz_KrOnIcKLeZ.iso/drugs/vendetta

Internet Message Format | 1996-05-06 | 9KB

Date: Sat, 17 Jun 1995 21:35:35 -0400
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Subject: U.S. Rep. Gerald Solomon's Vendetta

SOLOMON'S VENDETTA
(from the MPP's June 1995 "Marijuana Policy Report")

U.S. Representative Gerald Solomon (R-New York) is perhaps the most powerful,
outspoken prohibitionist in Congress. The ex-Marine representing the rural,
staunchly conservative 22nd congressional district has made a career out of
viciously attacking illicit drug users, draft dodgers, flag burners, and
other counterculture icons.

Solomon's obsession with illicit drugs apparently is not based on a sincere
desire to minimize the harm associated with these substances. Instead, he is
aggressively pursuing a cultural war, intent on wiping out certain
alternative lifestyles and modes of social and political thought deemed
offensive by him and many of his constituents.

Solomon's tactics and rhetoric are often reminiscent of U.S. Senator Joseph
McCarthy's Red Scare of the 1950s. The March 1995 Congressional Quarterly
profile of Solomon noted his reaction to the January 1991 ground offensive
against Iraq. Solomon pontificated on the House floor, "What we cannot be
proud of is the unshaven, shaggy-haired, drug culture, poor excuses for
Americans, wearing their tiny round wire-rim glasses, a protester's symbol of
the blame-America-first crowd, out in front of the White House burning the
American flag." (emphasis added)

Solomon's agenda cannot be furthered by arresting people for having shaggy
hair or wearing "John Lennon" glasses. However, Solomon can use his power to
bolster the war against the "drug culture." And that he does with a
vengeance.

LEGISLATIVE ATTACKS

With each new Congress, Solomon introduces a slew of bills to increase the
scope and severity of the penalties for drug-law violations. Several of these
have become law. For example, the "Solomon-Lautenberg amendment" to the 1990
Highway Transportation Appropriations Act mandates that a state or territory
lose a certain percentage of its allotted federal highway funds unless it
enacts a law to suspend the driver's license of anyone convicted of any drug
offense. Nineteen states complied by enacting such legislation. (The other
states complied by passing special "opt-out" resolutions.)

This "smoke a joint, lose your license" mandate was specifically intended to
punish marijuana consumers in the 10 states in which marijuana is
decriminalized (possession of a personal-use amount carries only a small
fine).

Somewhat preoccupied with urine, Solomon has sponsored successful amendments
requiring drug-testing of employees of the CIA, Coast Guard, NASA, and the
D.C. Metro transit system.

HOUSE FLOOR SPEECHES

Solomon routinely makes speeches on the House floor during the extensions of
remarks periods, preaching about the dangers of illicit substances and
vociferously attacking the movement to "legalize drugs." The following
excerpts are from Solomon's speech of April 6, 1995, as it appeared in the
Congressional Record:

          "... the time has come to refocus our sites [sic] on the number one
problem in this country, drugs."

          "As a Marine I can assure you that you don't win a fight, battle or
a war by giving up."

          "Legalization was jettisoned with Joycelyn [Elders] and is not
coming back. However, it is useful if your real purpose is to influence young
people to try and use drugs."

          [Regarding tax-exempt drug policy reform organizations]: "They need
to be investigated and their contributors should be required to pay taxes on
past contributions. ... The time has come to expose some of these more
sinister organizations and the seedy individuals involved with them. ..."

Solomon proceeded to enter into the record an article by former Director of
the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) William Bennett, "Renewing
the War on Drugs," and an article lambasting ABC news for its April 6 special
report, "America's War on Drugs: Searching for Solutions," written by former
Acting Director and Deputy Director of ONDCP John Walters.

Solomon also spoke on March 2, arguing that "drug decriminalization in
Holland has increased crime and addiction," submitting into the record an
article by ultra-prohibitionist Dr. Eric A. Voth, chair of the International
Drug Strategy Institute. Solomon spoke on the House floor twice on February
3, arguing that drugs are responsible for most other social problems and that
the drug war should be fought with a renewed vigor.

SOLOMON'S POLITICAL BACKGROUND

Solomon has been riding high on marijuana-bashing from the time he first ran
for Congress against incumbent U.S. Representative Ned Pattison (D) in 1978.
According to the Congressional Quarterly, Pattison admitted to having tried
marijuana; subsequently, conservatives in the district referred to him as
"Pot-tison." Solomon won with 54 percent of the vote.

Solomon, a long-time advocate for veterans, labor unions, and rural-American
values, enjoys a tremendous amount of support from voters in his district.
Indeed, only one Democrat--Pattison--has held that seat in this century.
Solomon typically wins his re-elections with more than 65% of the vote.

NEW POWER

Upon the Republicans' takeover of the House on January 4, Solomon became
chair of the powerful Rules Committee. This committee determines when a bill
will be considered on the floor and sets the terms of the debate, including
time limits and amendment procedures.

This gives Solomon tremendous influence over the outcome of pending
legislation, enabling him to thwart pro-reform bills and advance drug-war
bills.

Solomon's destructive potential should inspire harm reduction
supporters--especially in New York's 22nd district--to get politically
active. He is a living example of what complacency on the part of pro-reform
citizens brings. If enough people who believe that marijuana users should not
be severely punished would organize, focus, and work for reform, people like
Solomon could be replaced with reasonable, compassionate leaders. At the very
least, a resounding and persistent message from pro-reform constituents to
their members of Congress could diminish the prohibitionists' effectiveness
and pave the way for some reform--such as medicinal marijuana legislation--in
the near future.

NEW BILLS

Solomon has introduced 11 new bills so far this session to increase the
severity of the drug war. The MPP is monitoring the progress of these
bills--and will take direct action and suggest projects for activists in the
Marijuana Policy Report when necessary. To date, there have been no
subcommittee hearings on any of these bills, and nearly half have not yet
gained any cosponsors.

The information on the following bills is presented in this format: numerical
name; additional cosponsors (if any); purpose (as stated in the bill);
further description, if needed.

(All were introduced by U.S. Rep. Solomon; all except H.R. 1453 were
introduced on January 4.)

H.R. 1453: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to deny tax-exempt
status to organizations which promote the legalization of certain drugs.
(Solomon also vowed to offer this as an amendment "to the first appropriate
vehicle.")

H.R. 135 (Barton, Dornan, Myrick, Sensenbrenner): To prohibit federally
sponsored research pertaining to the legalization of drugs.

H.R. 138 (Dornan, Myrick, Sensenbrenner): To amend the Controlled Substances
Act to require that courts, upon the criminal conviction under that Act,
notify the employer of the convicted person. (This includes possessing a
single joint for personal use!)

H.R. 143 (Dornan, Myrick, Rohrabacher): To require the pre-employment drug
testing of applicants for federal employment.

H.R. 148: To require random drug testing of federal legislative branch
officers and employees.

H.R. 136 (Barton, Dornan, Myrick, Rohrabacher): To require random drug
testing within the executive branch of the federal government.

H.R. 160: To require random drug testing of federal judicial branch officers
and employees.

H.R. 134 (Barton, Myrick): To suspend federal education benefits to
individuals convicted of drug offenses. (Even a first offense for possession
of a joint would elicit a one-year ineligibility period. A third offense
would elicit permanent ineligibility.)

H.R. 141 (Barton, Dornan, Myrick, Sensenbrenner, Weller): To amend the
Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to eliminate the discretion of the court in
connection with the denial of certain federal benefits upon conviction of
certain drug offenses.

H.R. 147: To ... modify the death penalty for drug kingpins. (This would
effectively lower the minimum quantity of marijuana for which a person may be
executed--from 60,000 plants or kilograms to 30,000 plants or kilograms.)

H.R. 153: To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish federal
standards to ensure quality assurance of drug testing programs. ...

Free copies of the above bills can be obtained by calling the office of your
U.S. representative. (If you don't know the name of your U.S. representative,
call the congressional switchboard operator at 202-224-3121.)

CONCLUSION