Posted July 28th, 2017 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill:
Stories from the week of July 14, 2017
Big Table – Yes: Grover’s meeting had two US Senators this week. Senator Roberts (R-KS) started his presentation by commenting on my hat, then asked about my horse, thanked me for my police service and we had a ‘private’ dialog for 45 seconds. Later we had a great chat in the hallway on marijuana and the 10th Amendment.
Senator Strange (R-AL – took Sessions place) and I had a solid chat in the hallway after his presentation. Probably my place at the table helped to corral a bit of their time.
How’s it goin’ cowboy?: asked the voice behind me in the Longworth café. I turned to see Cman Labrador (R-ID)…we had a good chat, as I asked him to convince fellow Idaho Cman Simpson to vote 10th. It was about my third chat with him.
Personal Privilege – it was a thrill to have a Congressman make contact with me from out of the blue. This was a first in 10 years.
This week’s stats:
217 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 05 this week
2484Presentations to Congressional staffers… 08 this week
2 meetings
COP stats since inception: August 2009
77 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
208 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
72 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss. French TV and radio) 00 this week
148 interviews and reports in minor media = 00 this week.
26 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc) 00 this week (CPAC)
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
* 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. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
Posted July 11th, 2017 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill:
Stories from the week of July 7, 2017
Too Old / Ineffective ??: Now that I am collecting social security, of course from time to time I doubt my ability to move the issue in Washington. Introspection and chatting with peers helps me understand my worth and my weaknesses.
I had just left a House office, when an intern, a 21 y/o local university student, came out and wanted a few minutes. He had been present to hear my 3-4-minute chatter, mini-presentation moments before. He said he was impressed and wanted to volunteer his time, after his intern period had ended this fall. We ended up with a 10 minute chat….. I guess I still have ‘the Right Stuff.’
BTW, I will put him to work this fall.
This week’s stats:
2476 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 11 this week
208 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 01 this week
2 meetings
COP stats since inception: August 2009
212 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week
77 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
72 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss. French TV and radio) 00 this week
148 interviews and reports in minor media = 00 this week.
26 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc) 00 this week (CPAC)
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
* 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. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
Posted July 11th, 2017 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill:
Stories from the week of June 30, 2017
Renewing Foreign Relations: Friday I had a most enjoyable lunch with a customs officer attached to the German embassy…a follow-up to the reception a few weeks ago. We discussed how terrorists use drug smuggling routes to bring in weapons and bad guys.
Tough Duty/Work: Thursday evening I was invited and attended a soiree at the Trump Plaza for two Congressmen. It was enjoyable and productive. The hors-oeuvres were again amazing.
Step back and analyze: As we – the Team of Four – make more progress in the House and Senate, we realize that our bills will receive neither a hearing nor a vote for years to come. Thus, beginning next month, I will book myself and Don Murphy into every Rotary type club, every monthly VFW and American Legion meeting, talk radio show, editorial boards, etc. in the Congressional district of the committee chairman, Goodlatte, R-VA (near Roanoke). We will urge his constituents to call the Congressman and request a vote. If this strategy bears fruit, I would go to Speaker Ryan’s district in Wisconsin to do the same. Stay Tuned.
This week’s stats:
212 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 01 this week
2465 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 11 this week
207 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 01 this week
3 meetings
COP stats since inception: August 2009
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week
77 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
72 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss. French TV and radio) 00 this week
148 interviews and reports in minor media = 00 this week.
26 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc) 00 this week (CPAC)
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
* 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. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
Posted July 4th, 2017 by hiwayhowie
COP stats for 2016
257 Presentations to Congressional Staffers
27 chats with a Member of Congress
51 chats with other elected officials, state reps/senators, VIPs, etc
22 interviews and reports in media
7 radio interviews
2 published letter to the editor
3 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspaper (NY Times, example)
2 major conferences attended (United Nations drug conference and CPAC)
A week in New Hampshire and a week in South Carolina attending 26 presidential rallies
535 Congressional offices visited at least twice
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist Wednesday ‘Center-Right’ group attended by 150 conservatives
Cost / Expenses:
3050 – transportation – mileage, parking, train, metro,
1540 – meals
4600 – UN & CPAC conferences
400 – office supplies
840 – internet, phone costs
0000 – webmaster, 990 preparation, Howard’s time (all donated)
Spent: $ 10,400 – Total amount raised in 2016…circa $13,000
Work Done in 2016 by Citizens Opposing Prohibition (COP)
Congress – COP continued to focus on educating the Congress which resulted in steady progress to our goal of applying the 10th Amendment to prohibited drugs, starting with marijuana. We came within 10 votes of that goal in the House. All the ‘small steps’ of the past ten years are bearing fruit. As a COP member, be proud of the part you have played in making this happen.
Nationally – COP spoke truth to power in NH and SC. I and Don Murphy were able to speak to all candidates (except Bernie and Trump) and asked if they would apply the 10th to marijuana.
Internationally – COP continued to play a role. A two-hour coffee chat in central Germany with a member of the German Parliament (Frank Tempel) has solidified the bonds between USA and German police orgs (LEAP). He asked for and I have been supplying his office with a steady stream of USA reports on developments in the marijuana industry/law. I made him aware of the report on Colorado and Washington prepared by the German embassy in 2015. Frank introduced a bill in late 2016 to allow the 16 German states to choose their own path on marijuana.
COP was there in Vienna this spring for the annual UN conference on dangerous drugs. Asking two UN employees the fastest route to end the world-wide marijuana prohibition, both answered, “legalize it in California.” Thus 2016 will be the last Howard takes the two weeks and the money to attend.
Field Work: Howard and Don Murphy spent a week before their primary to attend rallies (24), interview with media (many) and speak to the candidates (all but Trump and Fiorina). I had several fotobomb events, the best in the NY Times and CNN.
Manchester, NH – election day – on set with CNN ‘foto bomb’
Posted July 4th, 2017 by hiwayhowie
COP Annual Report for year August 1, 2014 thru July 31, 2015
The bread and butter Congressional presentations numbered roughly 245. This number is down about 50 from last year. There was a large in increase (37) in personal chats with Members of Congress this year. All 535 offices received an average of three (3) visits to drop off materials, ask for an aide’s time, etc. Dozens of hearings and meetings were attended throughout DC.
Know that about 20% of the offices simply refuse to meet with COP. 70% of the House offices force Howard to go door to door to meet, as opposed to responding to an email for an appointment to meet. Luckily the Senate offices agree to set up a meeting about 60% of the time.
The champions of the House are Misters Polis (D-CO), Farr (D-CA) and Rohrabacher (R-CA). Rohrabacher’s HR 1940 is the flagship bill of this session of Congress currently has 14 co-sponsors (9 Democrats and 6 Republicans). COP continues to educate the Congress on the need to repeal federal, marijuana prohibition. NOTE: 1940 is 38 words long and simply acts to repeal federal marijuana prohibition.
Howard attended the weekly Grover Norquist meeting of 150 influential conservatives every week he was in DC. This relationship continues to bear fruit. Norquist is a vocal supporter of COP efforts. He attended the CPAC convention in DC and the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) September conference.
At the CPAC conference COP chipped in half the cost of a booth. It was used by LEAP, RAMP and SSDP to meet some of the 9,000 attendees. Howard stayed on the move thru-out the 3 day conference.
Howard again attended an 11 day United Nations drug conference in Vienna, Austria at the request of LEAP. Using my four languages, I spoke to delegates from 19 countries. The hallways continue to buzz with the results of Colorado and its audacity to disobey the UN.
One obstacle to repeal of drug prohibition in Congress is the United Nation’s 1961 Single Convention Treaty. COP will continue to do its part to end worldwide drug prohibition.
COP raised $14.945 in fiscal year #5. Expenditures were $12,774. Money in the bank at the end of the fiscal year was $35,850.
