The Congressional Black Caucas said Wednesday that President
Clinton had not gone far enough in recommending to Congress that
the federal sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine
be reduced rather than eliminated.

At a Capitol Hill news conference, members of the caucus said
the harsher treatment of defendants convicted of possessing small
amounts of crack had resulted in long prison sentences for dispro
portionate numbers of blacks.

They urged the Clinton administration to negotiate with congres
sional leaders to make the penalties equivalent to those imposed in
powdercocaine cases.

"We believe that strong law enforcement is a must," said the cau
cus' chairwoman, Rep.Maxine Waters, DLos Angeles."But we believe
that enforcement must be just and fair.