COPs on the Hill:Stories from the week of April 1, 2011

 Your Voice in the United States Congress

Bienvenido:    At Grover’s Brunch this week came two senators and a house member from Bolivia. They addressed the group, describing two of their main problems, one of which was associated with the prohibition of cocaine.

After they sat down, I had a hushed* chat with one in Spanish to introduce myself and COPs.  I informed them that powerful police voices in the USA were working everyday to end drug prohibition/guerra de drogas.  All three leaned in to hear my words.  We exchanged business cards.   I wrote to all three and one Senator replied for the group.  More contacts for the future.

Made him think?:  Also at Grover’s came 3 Congressmen and one US Senator.  During question and answer I was able to ask one if he would support a 10^th amendment approach to marijuana policy.  He slowly replied he would not, saying he knew people harmed by marijuana.  Later a buddy complimented me on the question& how it had made the Congressman squirm.* 

 Don Quixote has a brother:  While in the Senate this week gathering names of aides (as of this writing 6 offices still have not hired an aide for judiciary!), I ran into the chief legal counsel to  Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)..whom I have met with four times in five years.   We caught up on my issue then…

 He said he was the point person for moving the legislation to reduce the excessive bank ‘swipe fee’ for credit cards.  The $13 BILLION dollars the banks earn from this has the whole banking lobbyist world breathing down his neck, wanting to separate his head from his shoulders.

Over the past five years I have had several police lobbyists treat me with open disdain.*  I know how the aide feels.

 *hushed = gedämpft – leise

 * squirm = sich winden

*disdain = Verachtung

Howard

 COPs 2nd year stats to date:

 TV appearances: 11 (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX, cable) 

Newspaper stories: 7 dailes, 3 weeklies

Radio appearances: 7 

Published LTE: 13 (one this week)

Other media (bloggers, cable TV, minor publications, etc): 9

 132 presentations to Congressional staffers: (5 this week)

8 (Member of Congress) contacts:    

5 other VIP (MD state Senator & Rep):   

 Consider being a member of COPs at $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.   Your support keeps the COPs voice loud and strong in the halls of the United States Congress.   We agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow.  Go to: www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to:

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Buckeystown, MD  21717

 Modern Prohibition/The War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional &  immoral  domestic policy since slavery  & Jim Crow.