Bill adds meth-making to `three strikes' list

State lawmakers may pare their agenda after an earthquake forced them out of the Capitol building, but one issue they won't escape is the spread of methamphetamine.

"The story keeps getting worse and worse," said House co-Speaker Clyde Ballard, R-East Wenatchee. "It's in every neighborhood, and it's a major problem."

As Ballard announced plans for a post-earthquake agenda Thursday, in another room House Appropriations Committee members listened to testimony in favor of a bill that would make the operation of a meth lab a "strike" under the "Three Strikes, You're Out" law, which requires a life sentence after a conviction for a third violent crime.

Other proposed bills would restrict the sale of ingredients that can be used to make meth and increase potential penalties for exposing children to meth-manufacturing sites.

Although the three-strikes bill does have support from some Democrats, others strongly oppose it.

"We can pass all the prevention bills we want, the problem is the demand," said Rep. Alex Wood, D-Spokane. "To throw this in as a third strike is going in the wrong direction because this is not a violent crime against humanity."

Wood said prevention is "by far, the way to go" and added, "you can't do that with legislation."

Sen. Jim West, R-Spokane, said Wood is "living in a fantasy world."

"It's that attitude that brought the drug use back," West said. "His definition of prevention is, `Don't do it to excess, kids.'" While some argue about how to win the war on drugs, most Republicans and Democrats can agree on one thing.

"We're not just losing the fight" against meth, said Rep. Dave Morell, a Republican from Pierce County and prime sponsor of the three-strikes legislation. "We're about ready to get knocked out."

The war on drugs hasn't worked for years, Wood said. When Spokane police recently busted 11 meth labs in as many days, he said it was an intentional message to lawmakers.

"They said, `Look, guys, we can bust one of these every day if we want to.'" Wood is right, said Lt. Chan Bailey, spokesman for Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk.

"We could bust a meth lab a day," Bailey said. "But if we did, the rest of the criminal justice system couldn't keep up."

The average citizen hasn't dealt with it on a personal basis, West said, which is why he thinks he hasn't heard much from constituents so far.

On the other hand, Rep. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said the calls are coming in. He feels pressure from his constituents to get something done about the crisis because he's hearing, "What was formerly a West Side problem is now our problem.

"There is no one silver bullet to this," Schoesler said. "We took the worst of all our drug ills and rolled them into one - meth."

Another bill, proposed by Sen. Rosa Franklin, a Pierce County Democrat, would restrict the sale of ingredients that meth cooks use to make their drug. Sen. Larry Sheahan, R-Spokane, supports the approach but said it can only be so effective.

"It's more of an inconvenience to pushers, but I question the long- term effect."

Instead, Sheahan is interested in what technology can do to help.

He said Pfizer Inc. is working on an additive for their ephedrine products. It would react when meth dealers try to cook it, breaking it down and turning the drug to mush, he said.

Bob Fauteux, spokesman for Pfizer, was tight-lipped about the research.

"We're continuing to work on inhibiting the conversion of our product to methamphetamine," he said. "But from our point of view the solution to the problem is strengthening the laws."

Legislators are trying to do just that. In all, seven bills dealing the meth issue are making their way through the system.

Rep. Jeff Gombosky, D-Spokane, said he supports most of the legislation being proposed, but is hesitant to stand up for the three- strikes bill "right away."

"We need to ask, `What does it mean to create a strike?'"

Gombosky said his constituents are more vocal this year than in the past concerning meth, but thinks there is still limited awareness of the problem and those that are aware don't always pick up the phone to call their representative or senator.

"Olympia is on the other side of the state and D.C. is on the other side of the country. (Spokane residents are) more likely to look to themselves to solve their problems."

Copyright 2001 Cowles Publishing Company
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