Baker calls for restoration of anti-meth funding
State Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia, a candidate for the 9th U.S. Congressional District, is on the offensive. She issued a news release about restoring the funding which was reduced under the Bush Administration for cracking down on meth labs
“The use and production of meth has been a destructive force in Missouri, but Washington thinks it is a problem that will just go away," Baker said in the release. "That is why they cut support for the anti-meth programs by more than 60 percent and that is why I will go to Washington to restore funding that keeps our families safe.
Missouri has had more methamphetamine lab seizures then any other state for nearly a decade, according to the Criminal Justice institute.
A Maneater article from February shed light on the lack of funding that it has received:
"A major source of funding for Missouri’s anti-meth program is the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. Missouri receives $9 million from the program, with about $6.3 million being allocated to state law enforcement and $2.7 million to city and county police departments. Last year, President George Bush attempted to end the program as a part of his budget cuts."
This demand in funding was preceded by a radio ad Baker released on Tuesday which attempted to introduce herself to state voters.
The race between Baker and former Missouri Tourism Director Blaine Luetkemeyer is expected to be close, and it is on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue Listing.