Posted March 3rd, 2013 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the week of March 1, 2013
Sign of the Times: An email exchange with a Legislative Director I have known for years ended like this. “You’re on the right side of history my friend.” These types of little notes are instructive as to the ‘feel’ of DC on this issue.
Cowboy hat as business expense?: On Monday evening I attended a Texas delegation soirée in the Rayburn Bldg. Senator Cornyn was there along with a number of Congressmen. Amazingly, I was the only one in the 150 attending wearing a cowboy hat. Thus, a member of the Republican National Committee grabbed me and asked for my story. Later, two legislative aides from the Senator’s office asked about my mission on the hill. One LA rides horses so she received a copy of a 3,000 word story Misty wrote back in 2003 “How to Cross Really Tall Bridges” by Smooth Georgia Mist. Later that aide wrote and wants to have coffee and talk about the COP mission and The Long Ride. All good stuff. BTW, Karen said NO to expensing the next Stetson. Having a tax CPA for a wife means ‘no coloring outside the lines.’ Grrrr.
New MO – Modus Operandi: Previously I would walk into an office and simply ask who the Legislative Assistant is who handles the COP issues. Starting this January, I made the stop more informative. “Hi, my name is Howard Wooldridge. I am a retired police detective who represents an organization which believes all drug issues should be handled by doctors and clinics, not cops and prisons. Who is you LA who handles judiciary, war on drugs, etc.?”
Because of this change I end up having excellent 2-3 minute chats with the front office people who are intrigued by COP ideas. Since the first of the year I have had about 20 of these mini-presentations.
Late this week a cold knocked me on my butt and I only managed the above, 5 presentations and 1 radio interview. I am fine enough now and back full-time on Monday.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
- 1115 Presentations to Congressional staffers..05 this week
- 30 Appearances on major TV networks (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
- 22 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine this week
- 45 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. this week
- 71 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $70,000) = this week
- 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning my efforts & in support of COP position
- 26 Radio Interviews..1 this week
- 34 brief chats with Members of Congress
- 34 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 1 this week
- 11 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, etc)
- Permanent invitation to 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. 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. If you agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow and want to be a part of the solution… Go to:
Posted February 26th, 2013 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the week February 22, 2013
VIP Meetings: I earned several helpings of Crown Royal whiskey and Swiss chocolate this week
*30 minute chat with the Chief of Staff of a leader of the CBC-Congressional Black Caucus. The Member has always supported the Drug War but his C of S and Legislative Director will both try to convince him to adopt the COP position because of the horrific civil rights violations committed in the name of drug policy. I have known these staffers for four (4) years. The feeling I had when I walked out of their office was a combo of elation and satisfaction, knowing all the hard work of 7 years is coming to fruition.
*20 minute private meeting with Grover Norquist and his Chief of Staff. I asked for his support for HR 499 – (Federal MJ Repeal bill). I can report a good meeting that was productive.
*2 minute chat with Texas Governor Perry. I attended a Texas Society breakfast where everyone introduced themselves. After saying my name and being from Fort Worth, I held up my “LONG RIDER” buckle and said, “And you earn this buckle when you ride your TEXAS horse across America, coast to coast.” I was later able to ask a question, stating I was a retired detective who believed that chasing Willie Nelson and a green plant were nonsense and a waste of good police time. I then asked a question about the 20,000 rape kits in Texas that had never been opened.
A few minutes later in the receiving line, the Governor said he knew of 3 young men riding from the Rio Grande to Canada. He thought my experience might help them and thus he asked for my business card. We spoke on my issue for a moment. This may or may not develop into something more but it does show the power of just showing up is half of any win.
Not bad for a 30 dollar breakfast or one year’s dues to COP.
Too busy week in the House, as they were in recess. 23 meetings with staff plus a newspaper interview. Whew!
COP stats since inception: August 2009
- 1110 Presentations to Congressional staffers..23 this week
- 30 Appearances on major TV networks (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
- 22 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine this week
- 45 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. 1 this week
- 71 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $70,000) = this week
- 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning my efforts & in support of COP position
- 25 Radio Interviews.. this week
- 34 brief chats with Members of Congress
- 33 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 1 this week
- 11 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, etc)
- Permanent invitation to 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. 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. If you agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow and want to be a part of the solution… Go to:
Posted February 24th, 2013 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the week February 15, 2013
Just like Ron Paul: This week I was able to ask two offices if their co-sponsorship of the Federal Repeal of Marijuana Act of 2011 had been a campaign issue last fall and had their support hurt them. Both said no & no. Both Members won by large margins.
Ron Paul would win his elections by numbers like 75/25. Now other parts of the country are also treating a federal repeal position as a low political risk, no-brainer.
Working conditions: Leaving the Longworth bldg close to 5:00 this week, one of the Capitol Police called out, “Good night sheriff.” As I walked the ¾ mile (1.1KM) to the train station, I reflected on the officer’s greeting. When I first started in the fall of 2005, the atmosphere of my working day was tense on a regular basis. Republican aides were often hostile, demeaning outright rude.
Now I encounter hostility maybe once a month and the vast majority of aides from both parties are openly friendly and want to help me succeed. I have had chats with many of the officers, they read my jacket and they whisper their support. From my house and back to my front door averages an 11 hour day and is no picnic. The wind at my back and the change in staff attitude sure makes the day go faster though.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
- 1087 Presentations to Congressional staffers..9 this week
- 30 Appearances on major TV networks (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
- 22 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine this week
- 44 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. this week
- 71 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $70,000) = this week
- 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning my efforts & in support of COP position
- 25 Radio Interviews.. this week
- 34 brief chats with Members of Congress
- 31 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, etc.
- 11 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, etc)
- Permanent invitation to 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. 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. If you agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow and want to be a part of the solution… Go to:
Posted February 14th, 2013 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the week February 8, 2013
Jumping in the boat: Below are two emails I received this week. The Member of the second signed onto the repeal bill. These letters are becoming typical of staff reaction to the COP message.
Hi Mr. Wooldridge,
Shelby forwarded your e-mail to me. I’d be happy to speak with you. I’m pretty flexible with my schedule here on the Hill, so you may call my desk at 202-226-xxxx and schedule a time when it’s convenient for you.
I’m already with you 100% on the issue, so to cut to the chase, a 1-to-3 page policy briefing for my boss would be ideal. If you have any proposed legislation in mind, bring a draft with you in writing.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Howard,
I just wanted to thank you for coming in to meet with me yesterday and explain your position. The information and data that you offered will be helpful in the future as Congress addresses some of these issues. I will make sure that Congressman xxxxx is alerted to the information that you provided in our meeting. Please feel free to contact me in the future with further information.
REPEAL Bill introduced: Congressman Jared Polis (CO-D) introduced HR 499 this week. The wording is substantially the same as last session’s clean and simple Ron Paul/Barney Frank bill to repeal federal prohibition of marijuana. It already has 11 co-sponsors. We ended up with 21 co-sponsors last session. My goal is to double that. Polis talking points are at the bottom.
Rally the troops: I drove an hour to Fairfax, VA on Thursday night to address the Northern Virginia NORML chapter. We had a good crowd and a local reporter made a story and foto of it. I did my best to give them a sense of what progress has been made in Congress and beyond. http://fallschurch.patch.com/articles/local-group-high-on-legalizing-pot#photo-13298093
COP stats since inception: August 2009
- 1078 Presentations to Congressional staffers..11 this week
- 30 Appearances on major TV networks (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
- 22 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine this week
- 44 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. 1 this week
- 71 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $70,000) = this week
- 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning my efforts & in support of COP position
- 25 Radio Interviews..1 this week
- 34 brief chats with Members of Congress
- 31 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, etc.
- 11 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, etc)
- Permanent invitation to 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. 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. If you agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow and want to be a part of the solution… Go to:
Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2013
Rep. Jared Polis (CO-2)
Section-by-Section Summary
Title I: Marijuana Decriminalization
Removes marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
Maintains the Controlled Substances Act’s current definition of marijuana.
Prohibits marijuana from being shipped into a state or territory in which marijuana
remains illegal.
Removes special law enforcement authority given to the Department of Agriculture and
the U.S. Forest Service to pursue individuals producing marijuana on federal land. This
bill does not permit growing of marijuana or hemp on federal land. Growing anything on
federal land without a permit is illegal under federal law; this bill simply reduces the
penalty for growing marijuana and hemp so that the penalties for doing so are in line with
those for growing all other plants.
Removes marijuana from the list of “dangerous drugs” for which suspected manufacture
or sale can be considered sufficient for the Department of Justice to issue permission for
a wiretap.
Title II: Regulation of Marijuana Like Alcohol
Adds a “Marijuana” section to the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, ensuring that the
law distinguishes between individuals who grow marijuana for personal use (and are not
subject to any federal registration or permitting requirements) and individuals who are
involved in commercial sale and distribution.
Requires that commercial producers and distributors of marijuana (in states in which
commercial production and distribution is legal) register for a permit with the Department
of the Treasury. Permits will only be available to producers and distributors who have not
committed a crime within the past five years (unless the crime was for a marijuanarelated
activity that was legal under state law at the time).
Requires that Treasury charge a fee for each permit. This fee, which closely emulates the
permit-and-fee system for commercial alcohol manufacturers, will be used to offset fully
the cost of all federal oversight and regulation of marijuana.
Title III: Transfer of Federal Marijuana Jurisdiction
Removes jurisdiction of marijuana regulation from the Drug Enforcement Administration
and gives it to the newly-renamed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana, Firearms and
Explosives.
Renames the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau the Alcohol, Tobacco, and
Marijuana Tax and Trade Bureau.
Requires the Government Accountability Office to review all parts of the U.S. Code
referring to the Controlled Substances Act or other federal drug laws, and to make
recommendations to Congress of any sections that may need to be amended in light of
this legislation.
Allows a federal agency to continue to set its own drug policy.
Posted February 13th, 2013 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the week February 1, 2013
Boot Leather: The House was in recess (AKA working in district) and thus was the most opportune time to meet with legislative aides. I had 29 meetings. I will spend almost two days next week catching up on the paper work that the meetings generate.
Quelle surprise: I was having lunch with three staffers, when an aide I knew came up to say hello. I rose and as I was shaking his hand, he began speaking French. We chatted for two minutes, en français, and he left. Fortunately, I keep up my French skills at a café on Saturday mornings where about 8 of us chat in French for an hour. I can only imagine the staffers were fairly shocked that the ‘big buckle’ cowboy speaks fluent French. It was fun.
NOTE: When the aide and I met a year ago, I mentioned speaking French to police officers in Switzerland in the context of the describing the Swiss Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT) program. He broke into perfect French and we ended the last five minutes of the presentation en Français.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
- 1067 Presentations to Congressional staffers..29 this week
- 30 Appearances on major TV networks (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
- 21 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers
- 43 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, etc
- 71 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $70,000) = this week
- 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning my efforts & in support of COP position
- 23 Radio Interviews..1 this week
- 34 brief chats with Members of Congress
- 30 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, etc.
- 11 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, etc)
- Permanent invitation to 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. 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. If you agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow and want to be a part of the solution… Go to:
