Some states with significant methamphetamine problems have not received their share of federal money because much of a grant program was steered by lawmakers to favored projects in their districts, says a Justice Department inspector general’s report cited by the Associated Press. More than $179 million in anti-meth money administered by the department — 84 percent of the grant funds — has been earmarked by members of Congress for programs in their states and districts, Inspector General Glenn Fine said.
The Bush administration wants to end most meth-related earmarks in the budget for 2007. Lawmakers have indicated they are unlikely to go along. Fine noted that Missouri ranked second, behind California, in seizing 11,859 meth labs between 1998 and 2004. But it was tenth in grants received with $3.7 million.
Link: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/3745047.html