COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of January 31, 2020

We’ve come a long ways baby: this week I attended a “Happy Hour” hosted by the NCIA at their new, larger office near the Capitol. More appropriately, it was a “soirée,” since NCIA chief lobbyist, Michael Correia, was able to have Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) come and address the 30 attendees. It was a typical, excellent two hours to meet/greet, learn and enjoy a break from the stress of the Hill. Thank you to Michael and his team. BTW, it was all coats and ties and dresses.. Not one tye-dye shirt to be seen😊 And not for nothin, the majority of the lobbyists are Republican/Libertarian.

And being the ‘Old Guy’ of the group I recall when I first arrived in DC in 2005. I believe it was MPP’s Aaron Houston who told me that one reason Members voted NO on marijuana legislation was; the Member did not want to be associated “those people.” ** And for me, I was mis-trusted completely, as more than a few thought me a spy or narc to get the goods on other activists. LOL and the head of the Justice Roundtable told me in 2009 (4 years after my arrival) that the suspicion I was a narc had mostly gone away! Yeah…must have been my charm ???

** “those people” are now in the majority of both chambers in terms of ending the federal prohibition of marijuana

It was a solid week.

This week’s stats:

321 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 03 this week: R-CO Scott Tipton, R-PA Glenn Thompson, D-PA Mary Gay Scanlon
3330 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 18 this week
391 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 01 this week (1 Candidate for Congress)
02 Meetings – Grover Norquist, Reception for CWoman Scanlon at NCIA

COP stats since inception: August 2009

166 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week
85 Radio Interviews… 0 this week
102 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribute, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters
31 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000) 0 this week
43 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
* Consider being a member of COP at $40.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 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 drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org