Clinton, GOP Debate Drug Goals

President Clinton on Saturday announced a plan to halve drug use in America in the next ten years, prompting House Speaker Newt Gingrich to denounce Clinton's plan as "dead on arrival in this Congress."

In his Saturday radio address, Clinton said his administration's efforts will reduce drug use in America by 50 percent by 2007. The Office of National Drug Control Policy, headed by Gen. Barry McCaffrey, has launched a national anti-drug media campaign targeted at young people. In addition, the Border Patrol will hire 1,000 more agents, and the Drug Enforcement Administration will hire 100 new officers to battle against methamphetamines, Clinton said. He also announced the Justice Department will improve drug treatment for federal prisoners.

"This plan builds on our strategy of tougher punishment, better prevention and more partnerships to shut down the international drug trade," Clinton said.

Gingrich blasted the White House's plan, saying that it was not ambitious enough.

"I insist that the President and his drug czar withdraw their so-called drug plan and its hodgepodge of half-steps and half-truths, and bring us back a real plan to tackle the drug crisis," Gingrich said.

McCaffrey battled back, calling Gingrich's stance "irresponsible."

"I'm sympathetic to partisan wrangling and know that Newt Gingrich is looking for issues for the midterm election, but that's not what I signed up to do," McCaffrey told the Associated Press. "I'm afraid he's going to do a disservice to a comprehensive strategy."

The bickering over drug war goals may be a sign of things to come in other areas of public policy, as the Government Performance and Results Act kicks in, opening federal agencies' annual goals to congressional and public scrutiny. GOP leaders have said the Results Act should be used to debate goals for federal programs.

Gingrich said the President's plan does not do enough to protect children from drugs. A House-passed bill, H.R. 2610, would push McCaffrey's office to halve Americans' drug use and reduce teenage drug use 90 percent by 2001. McCaffrey has said those goals are unrealistic.