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Star Struck McCaskill Ignores Anti-Meth Funding; Governor, Senator Bond Take Lead
February 1, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY – While Claire McCaskill focuses on campaign commercials and guest appearances on national news shows for Democratic presidential hopefuls, Gov. Matt Blunt was expected today to approve more than $1 million in funding passed by Republican majorities in the Legislature to fight methamphetamine in Missouri that McCaskill refused to fight for in Washington D.C.
Late last year, McCaskill boasted on the CBS Evening News that she failed to fight for essential anti-meth funding that has been used to protect Missouri families against the evils of the highly addictive drug. Since then, McCaskill has been focused on her national political profile while Governor Blunt remained committed to providing supplemental state funding for the Missouri Sheriff’s Methamphetamine Relief Team to make up for the lack of funding. Sen. Kit Bond also strongly objected to Democrats taking money away from Missouri law enforcement but still managed, as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to secure $700,000 in federal funds for MoSMART efforts.
“While Claire McCaskill has been too busy with political distractions to deal with funding for those who would risk their lives to fight the scourge of methamphetamine, state Republicans led by Governor Blunt and Senator Bond kept their eye on the ball and secured essential funding for the Missouri Sheriff’s Methamphetamine Relief Team,” said Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. “While it is extremely disappointing that Claire McCaskill failed to stand up for law enforcement in Washington, D.C., Missourians concerned about meth should take comfort in knowing that state Republicans and Kit Bond stepped up on their behalf.”
The $1.8 million funding bill for MoSMART will provide critical funding for 48 sheriff’s offices and drug task force employees around Missouri. The governor’s commitment to fighting meth includes his support of a 2005 measure that restricts the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, both key ingredients in the manufacture of meth.
