COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of April 11, 2014

Stories from the week of April 11, 2014

 Green time:   Wednesday was a long day – first train in at 6:02 and last train out at 7:30..The conductor asked what the heck I was doing in DC so late…I told him about meetings and such, but – but —all good because it was all  “ green time” after 4 = great overtime pay.

Five minutes later he came inside the rail car and asked, “So green time…how much marijuana do they give you for the overtime?!”  I laughed myself silly.  NOTE:  in police work green time = time and half pay.

The truth, reluctantly:  The early breakfast featured a former Congressman and now the President of Texas Tech University.  During Q & A I asked how much he had to raise tuition because the state had reduced its support to higher education in order to build 77 prisons in Texas in the 1990s.

His political instincts kicked in and he did not answer the question in front of the 80 person audience.  Afterwards I pressed him on it.  He admitted that state aide had dropped from 57% of his budget to 24%   He agreed that the growth of prisons had pushed up the tuition at his university and others.

Knee Jerk:  I had a solid, 30 minute chat with the deputy chief of staff to a Senator who is thinking of running for president.  We have known each other for years, so it was relaxed and business-friendly.  When I touched upon the issue of marijuana, it was an immediate “I am against legalization.”

I gently stated that in the sandbox he and I play in, the goal is to employ the 10^th Amendment regarding drug policy.  He stopped and said let me think about that for a minute…as a solid conservative, he loves the 10^th (states’ rights) and would think it over….  And for me that is a good day…

PS>  I also urged him to recommend to the Senator that he take the same position of marijuana as Governor Perry = 10^th Amendment.  That would irritate the least amount of voters.

  COP stats since inception: August 2009

• 80 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.    01 this week
• 1492 Presentations to Congressional staffers..   02 this week

• 41 Radio Interviews..   this week   
• 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..    this week
• 36 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)… this week
• 18 major conferences attended..  this week (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions.  etc)    this week
• 26  published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine… this week

         77 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $75,000)..  this week

             55 brief chats with Members of Congress..   this week

• 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
• Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders.   Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
• Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.  30 dollars buys all the copy paper COP uses in one year.   Law Enforcement’s voice in opposition to current policy is vital on the Hill to achieve a repeal of federal prohibition.  COP provides that voice.    …  Go to: ·       www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to:
• Citizens Opposing Prohibition

POB 543

• Buckeystown, MD 21717

From the town hall meeting with Chairman Goodlatte (House Judiciary Comm)

Your COP at work:  5^th foto from the top

http://www.nationaljournal.com/pictures-video/conversations-with-the-chair-representative-bob-goodlatte-r-va-event-slideshow-20140404

Video of question…starts at minute 51

http://www.nationaljournal.com/events/conversations-with-the-chair-representative-bob-goodlatte-r-va-20140403