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House
Panel
Okays
Colombia
Aid,
Nixes
Drug
Treatment
Funds,
Floor
Vote
Postponed
3/17/00
The House Appropriations
Committee last week (3/9) approved $1.7 billion in aid to Colombia -- primarily
military aid -- which constituted a $500 million increase over the Clinton
Administration's request. The same day, the Committee rejected a
proposed $1.3 billion prevention and treatment package put forward by Rep.
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
Pelosi, the ranking Democrat
on the committee, expressed her concern to reporters. "They want
a military solution," she said. "We want a humanitarian solution
to the war on drugs. The discussion is not over."
But the debate, in committee
at any rate, was certainly over as the Colombian package was approved by
a vote of 33-13. Rep. David Obey (D-WI), who joined Pelosi in dissent,
sought to have $552 million in military aid held over until the next session,
rather than added to the aid package immediately. Obey, however was
also rebuffed.
"I think you must have confidence
in your president," taunted Rep. Sonny Callahan (R-AL), referring to Clinton's
support for military aid to Colombia. "Your lack of confidence in
your president is stunning to me."
"I elect my president every
four years to be my leader," replied Obey. "But I do not elect my
president to do my thinking for me."
The Colombia package was
scheduled for a vote on the House floor yesterday (3/15), but has been
postponed. The vote may take place on Tuesday.
Commentator Arianna Huffington
criticized the Colombia package and analyzed the financial interests that
have influenced it, in a syndicated column published Tuesday, online at
http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/files/031300.html.
-- END --
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Issue #129, 3/17/00
House Panel Okays Colombia Aid, Nixes Drug Treatment Funds, Floor Vote Postponed | "Dump Judge Judy" Campaign Heats Up, Chronic Pain Patients Join Coalition | Alerts: Colombia, Forfeiture, Hawaii Medical Marijuana | Marijuana Heart Risk Unlikely to be Significant, Says Expert | Maryland Medical Marijuana Bill Defeated -- This Time | New Racial Justice Coalition in California, Angered by Governor's Veto, Seeks Passage of Racial Profiling Bill | Newsbriefs | NO MORE PRISONS Hip Hop CD Available at Record Stores | Peter McWilliams Update -- Some Supporting Letters Lost in Computer Crash, Requests Resend | "Just Say Know" Conference Tapes Online | Events: New York, Washington, Toronto | Editorial: Positioning the Nation for Progress -- Not
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