COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of September 5, 2014

Stories from the week of September 5, 2014

?You Howard Wooldridge? Maybe, who’s asking?: At the Newark airport waiting for my flight to Costa Rica, a young, off-duty NC cop Googled my shirt and figured out who I was. (he will be a detective someday). We had an excellent 45M chat.

Harley as a business expense?: The day after a two hour formal meeting with a member (Diputado) of the Costa Rican Congress, my new amigo approached me. We chatted for a bit about the politics (he had introduced a ground-breaking medical MJ and industrial hemp bill two weeks ago). Then we learned of our mutual love of traveling on our Harleys; he all over Central America and me North America…this helped seal our working relationship. He spoke not a word of English, so my Spanish was crucial.

Fifth Latin-American Conference on Drugs: The front line of the drug prohibition is Central America and I wanted to know how far along they were in wanting change/what could I do to move the change along. All to better prepare for the United Nations efforts in 15 & 16.

Sadly due to a visa issue, LEAP’s President Neill Franklin was missing his aide who was to handle all the Spanish. He asked me to fill in which I gladly did. His schedule was packed with high-level meetings, interviews and the opening of LEAP’s branch in Costa Rica.

The undercurrent of the conference (350 attended) and the meetings was an intense desire to change from the current prohibition approach. Relationships were established which will facilitate that change.

This week’s raw data:

91 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.     03 this week

• 37 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)…01 this week
• 19 major conferences attended..  this week (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions.  etc)  01  this week
• 28 published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 02 this week

Two meetings

•   COP stats since inception: August 2009

1678 Presentations to Congressional staffers..  this week

54 brief chats with Members of Congress..   00 this week

10 Conversations (five minutes or longer) with Member of Congress..  0  this week

48 Radio Interviews..  00 this week

• 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..    this week

79 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $78,000).. 00 this week

      *   2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position

• Weekly attendance at 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.  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.    …  Go to: ·       www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to:
• Citizens Opposing Prohibition

POB 543

• Buckeystown, MD 21717