COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of March 23, 2018

COP on the Hill:

Stories from the week of March 23, 2018

Profiles in Cowardice: I attended a House hearing and House briefing on the issue of terrorist groups like Hezbollah making billions now on the drug trade from South America to Africa and Europe. Witness after witness spoke of the magnitude of the problem and deadly consequences of this funding source. No Congressman, no witness ever asked the question of ending drug prohibition, in order to deny Hezbollah 50% of the operating budget. Pitiful.

At the briefing I was able to put forth the proposal to end drug prohibition. The panel members responded that there is no “empirical evidence or study” that legalizing these 4-5 drugs would mean terrorists would have less money. I guess more than my mouth dropped. A half dozen people came up to me at the end to thank me for my question.

Happiness: Our side has worked tirelessly since January to continue the protection of ‘State-legal, medical marijuana operations.’ Early this week our language was adopted into the $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill. For 4 years now, we have been able to deny the DEA money to go after patients and care-givers. We tried to insert language to deny monies for all MJ operations but R leadership blocked a vote.

This week’s stats:

2709 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 02 this week
254 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 03 this week (Cman Joe Barton {TX-R}, Cman Yoho {FL-R} and CMan Perlmutter {CO-D}
Meetings – 2

COP stats since inception: August 2009
241 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week (candidates running for Congress)
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
75 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss. French TV and radio) 0 this week
28 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
83 Radio Interviews. 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