COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of August 31 & September 7, 2018

COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of August 31 & September 7, 2018

So mistaken and Happy to be So: My new HEROIN shirt has been in public now for 10 days. I was so sure I would have serious, upset people pushing back on it. Mistaken, I was. Even as I know that those who disagree will rarely ask why, I have had two dozen people engage me in constructive chats on why we should legalize heroin. The tone was mostly quizzical and two minutes later, many handshakes and “bless what you do.”

Make my Day: On Tuesday I left an office and entered the hallway perfectly to nearly run into Senator Joe Manchin (WV-D). I asked to walk him to the stairwell and he agreed. We spent a minute and a half, mostly discussing the opioid epidemic and ended with him receiving the Swiss Program Summary. The guy is as genuine as a rising sun.

Blood and Treasure: I have employed a brand-new topic in my 30-minute presentations to Senate staffers these past two weeks. Of course, we all know about the trillion dollars spent to date on our lovely war on drugs. What is the cost in the blood of our young people, I ask. Since the issue of teens shot due to their employment in the drug trade, the question is nearly rhetorical. I am asking each office to call for an over-sight committee hearing to explore the issue. Law makers should make decisions, based on ALL the costs, not just the money.

Next week will be spent on a fun trip to my sisters’ and driving Karen to the doc for a routine procedure.

This week’s stats:

2918 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 12 this week
275 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 01 this week (Senator Manchin, D-WV)
1 Meetings – meetings, hearings, etc.
351 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 01 this week (R candidate for Congress)

COP stats since inception: August 2009

30 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 -ALEC
78 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 00.. This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio)
84 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
152 interviews and reports in minor media = 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org