ANTI-METH BILL PUT ON SHELF FOR NOW

WASHINGTON -- A comprehensive anti-methamphetamine bill that enjoyed
broad support was put on the shelf until next year when Congress
adjourned this week for the holidays.

The measure was close to final passage but was attached to a
controversial anti-terrorism bill, the USA Patriot Act, that was
blocked in the final days of the session.

The anti-meth provision would have placed a 3.6 gram limit (about 120
pills) on daily purchases of cold medicines that contain ephedrine or
pseudoephedrine, ingredients that can be used to make meth. It would
require retailers to sell the medicines, which include Sudafed,
NyQuil and Benadryl, behind store counters.

It also would require companies to report shipments of ephedrine or
pseudoephedrine into the United States in an effort to stop
ingredients from heading to meth superlabs.

The legislation would also authorize a "Meth Hot Spots" program to
steer additional federal grants to local authorities, increase
funding for drug courts and toughen federal penalties against meth traffickers.

The Patriot Act, a collection of wiretap and search laws initially
passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, was reauthorized in the
House but blocked in the Senate. Detractors were concerned it did not
contain sufficient civil liberties protections for innocent Americans
who might get caught in its net, or strong enough requirements for
investigators to justify their targets.

Senators compromised to renew the act for six months. But the
anti-methamphetamine provisions were dropped in the process.

Senate leaders late Wednesday promised they would revive the
anti-meth bill when Congress returns to session early next year.

"We will address those very early when we come back in January or
February," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., calling
the anti-meth bill an "important issue." It was unclear Thursday how
the House might choose to proceed.

Lawmakers will seek a new way to move the bill forward, either as a
freestanding measure or attached to another bill, said Jim Kaiser, a
counselor for the House Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human
Resources Subcommittee. "We were under the strong presumption that it
would pass," Kaiser said.

Representatives of interest groups following the issue said they were
confident the bill would quickly regain momentum.

"I think that this is a setback, but that it's only going to be
temporary," said Joe Dunn, associate legislative director for the
National Association of Counties. Most local governments regard
methamphetamine abuse as a top problem, Dunn said.

"I think it's not an issue of if it's going to pass, but when," Dunn said.