Bush's Former Drug Czar Kicks Off NATSAP Convention

[Deborah]

Provo Canyon School Focus On Public Policy
Contact: Jeremy Cottle, PhD
801-227-2100
www.provocanyonschool.com
Rosemary Tippett
770-435-8464
www.natsap.org

Provo, UT (PRWEB) March 1, 2007 -- Dr. Jeremy Cottle, CEO of Provo Canyon School, is pleased to announce, ?As a member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP), Provo Canyon School joins them in their intent to preserve and protect programs for children and families in need of specialized educational and treatment services.?

A national association serving as a resource for programs and professionals who assist young people suffering from emotional difficulties called National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP), announced its intent to preserve and protect programs for children and families in need of specialized educational and treatment services and called on other children?s advocacy groups to join them in their efforts.

?Children and their families face far too many barriers to access to the care they need, sometimes being forced to relinquish custody of their young son or daughter to obtain public mental health services,? according to Jan Moss, Executive Director of NATSAP.
How is that different than relinquishing custody to a program?

?We seek to ensure the availability of a full range of options with accredited programs using credentialed professionals, the highest ethical standards, and principles of good practice,? Moss continued.
How many programs would loose membership if that were the criteria? How many are Licensed to provide treatment? How many are Accredited? How many have credentialed professionals working with kids on a daily basis?

?The programs and professional provider members of NATSAP are committed to working with states and legislators by providing our leadership, expertise, and knowledge  :rofl:  to prevent and address the quality and availability gaps in therapeutic programs for children,? according to John Santa, Ph.D. NATSAP 2007 Leadership Award Recipient and co-owner of Montana Academy, ?We are prepared to assist anyone interested in improving the lives of children,? he added.

?With our extensive experience, educators and therapists working together in specialized therapeutic schools and treatment centers can speak with passion, expertise, and authority on the devastation caused by unmet needs and the need to provide opportunities for parental involvement, individualized care, measurable results, and collaboration with licensing boards to create an understanding of why these specialized programs are critical to the success of America?s youth in coping with the pressures of adolescence,? according to Jeremy Cottle, Ph.D. and member of NATSAP.
10 minute phone calls once a week, if lucky, and a few seminars is Parental involvement? Is one-size-fits-all, production line 'treatment' now considered "Individualized" care? Where are the "Measurable results", ie. Independent studies? Do teens really need to be warehoused in order to learn how to cope with "the pressures of adolescence"?

Jeremy has extensive education and experience in working with families and adolescents. His doctorate degree is in the philosophy of counseling, education and supervision with a minor in marriage and family studies. Jeremy is also an LCSW and has worked as a program director and therapist for five programs in Texas and Utah. He has devoted his entire career to serving the educational and emotional needs of children and families.

Andrea Barthwell, M.D., former White House Deputy Drug Czar for President George W. Bush kicked off the activity at NATSAP?s annual meeting where she encouraged attendees to join forces with others who devote themselves to families? needs for effective care and education of its young members. ?While H.R. 1738 is a bill to ?End Institutionalized Abuse Against Children? and intends to improve the quality of care in therapeutic settings serving our young people, its most recent iteration could have caused a collapse of the system of care that your clients depend upon.  :question: Working with Rep. George Miller (D-CA), we can eliminate the bad programs and implement best practices in the rest,? she said.  :rofl:

?Anecdotes told by family members harmed in a bad program do not begin to tell the story of real pain and destruction we could experience if this industry were regulated out of existence,? she added.  :rofl: ?We need reform to eliminate programs that prey on desperate families while preserving vital components in the continuum of care.?

While the professionals of NATSAP are offering their expertise to Governors and Legislators, they will make their members available to governmental and other organizations interested in the health and mental health of young people.

[Deborah]

More on Andrea Barthwell, M.D., former White House Deputy Drug Czar for President George W. Bush.

Upon entering the medical profession, Barthwell's ambition allowed her to reach executive positions. She became President of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and President of the Illinois Society of Addiction Medicine, an area of medicine that has been one of her specialties. She served as President of the Encounter Medical Group, an Oak Park, Illinois professional consortium that also focused on addiction healthcare. In nearby Chicago, Barthwell was president of two drug treatment centers: BRASS Foundation and Human Resources Development Institute. In 1997, Dr. Barthwell's peers named her one of the "Best Doctors in America" in addiction medicine. In 2003, Dr. Barthwell received the Betty Ford Award, given by the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse.
Barthwell is a proponent of random student drug testing. In June 2004, she argued against a California bill that would have banned mandatory student drug testing. [1]
Barthwell is an outspoken critic of medical marijuana. She has labeled it a "cruel hoax" and "snake oil" while campaigning against Oregon and Illinois state medical marijuana initiatives. [2] [3] Since 2005, she has been a consultant for GW Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Sativex, a marijuana extract spray. Her efforts for GW have been aimed at pointing out the distinction between Sativex, a consistently formulated medication developed under established regulatory procedures and safely dosed, and whole medical marijuana, a crude and impure plant that is smoked or otherwise delivered in imprecise consistency and quantity. [4] [5]
Barthwell is CEO of the global health care and consulting firm EMGlobal LLC.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Barthwell"

GW Pharmaceuticals
Medical Marijuana ProCon.org  
1. Name:  GW Pharmaceuticals  
2. Medical Marijuana Position: Con to the question "Should marijuana be a medical option?"  
3. Reasoning: "In its crude herbal form, No. As a prescription medicine standardized in composition, formulation, and dose, administered by means of appropriate (non-smoked) delivery systems, and tested in rigorous preclinical and clinical studies, Yes." (5/19/05)
4. Credibility Ranking:   Those individuals and organizations involved in the Medical Marijuana debate which do not fit into the other star categories.
5. Organization  
  A. Mission: None listed
  B. Description: "GW is a pharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of prescription medicines derived from cannabis to meet patient needs in a wide range of therapeutic indications."
  C. Structure: U.K. Corporation
  D. Members / Constituents: Non-membership  
  E. Annual Budget: None listed
  F. Sr. Executive: Geoffrey Guy, M.D.  
  G. Title: Executive Director  
  H. Contact Info: Phone: 01980 557000    Fax: 01980 557111
E-Mail:  www.gwpharm.com
  I: # of offices: 1  
  J: Staff: None listed  
6. Relevant Affiliations: Licensed by U.K.'s Medicines Control Agency (MCA)  
http://www.medicalmarijuanaprocon.org/BiosOrg/GWP.htm

Barthwell:
"It is not a medicine. You don't know what's in it. If there were compelling scientific and medical data supporting marijuana's medical benefits that would be one thing. But the data is not there." (10/04)

"As a crude plant, marijuana is so complex, unstable, and harmful that sensible physicians and researchers consider it unethical to expose individuals to the risks associated with smoking it." (2/17/04)
http://www.medicalmarijuanaprocon.org/B ... thwell.htm


Barthwell Caught Red-Handed
Barthwell's Traveling Con Job
Not only has Andrea Barthwell been touring Illinois misleading people about the facts about medical marijuana, she has also claiming that her Illinois Marijuana Lectures were sponsored by Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center (GLATTC), an organization that "promotes state-of-the-art addiction science" and is funded through federal taxpayer dollars (through SAMHSA) and partners with such agencies as the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Andrea Barthwell is a former Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, where her job was to oppose medical marijuana, regardless of the facts. The function of the ONDCP as charged by Congress was one of propaganda. In fact, the GAO said as much (pdf) in a reply to Representative Ron Paul who was complaining about incorrect information being disseminated by another Deputy Director:
"... while the Deputy Director's statements pertaining to marijuana may be disputed by some with different viewpoints, they were made within the context of ONDCP's statutory responsibilities, which include taking such actions as necessary to oppose efforts to legalize certain controlled substances such as marijuana. ... Given this role, we do not see a need to examine the accuracy of the Deputy Director's individual statements in detail."
In other words, the ONDCP's purpose includes lying. Not a good background for the credibility of Dr. Barthwell.
In addition to lying about the evidence regarding the efficacy of medical marijuana, Andrea Barthwell adds further deceptions about marijuana and its use. One of her favorite claims is that today's pot is so much more potent it's creating problems of addiction and dependency.
She also talks about higher levels of youth in treatment for marijuana and infers that this is an indication of marijuana dangers -- something the government's own numbers refute.
Unfortunately, Andrea Barthwell is often assumed to be a qualified expert due to her medical background and her background in government service. Certainly, she is entitled to give her opinion. But it should be clear by now that she cannot be considered credible or an expert in this subject.
I hope that we'll be able to have a good discussion of medical marijuana in the Illinois legislature this year -- without the distraction of Andrea Barthwell's travelling con job.
Entire blog at:
http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/ ... Redha.html
DrugWarRant Forum:
http://www.drugwarrant.net/forum/index. ... 3defc5e351

Barthwell opposes McKeon's bill
"While there are no proven benefits to marijuana use, there are many short- and long-term risks associated with marijuana use," said Dr.  Andrea Barthwell of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.  "Even if smoking marijuana makes people feel better, that's not enough to call it a medicine."
In addition, Barthwell said several drugs already do the job, including Marinol, a drug using some chemicals from marijuana while blocking some of the side effects.
McKeon, the legislation's sponsor, and Shaw both said such medicine doesn't work for everyone and may cause more problems.
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n388/a03.html

[Anonymous]

George ought to treat NATSAP the same way he would head lice.

real pain and destruction we could experience if this industry were regulated out of existence,

Oh, you have no idea. But it's the pain and destruction you would experience.. not anyone else.

[psy]

I love these assholes.  They won't let you bake it in a brownie, much less use a vaporizer, but they'll let you buy it for 10$ a pill.  Because they want you to be "safe".  (they let you buy as many cigarettes as you want though)  Fucking pharmaceutical companies.  God damn greedy little shits.  What infuriates me even more, is that so many people are completely oblivious to this con-job.  And it's so obvious.  It's almost comical how stupid so many people are.

What is easier for kids to get: Alcohol or pot? Pot!  Because there is no control at all.  Which intoxicates?  Which causes permanent damage (pot can be vaporized or eaten etc...)?

And these same people use pot as an excuse to incarcerate teens at an early age as possible on even a suspicion they might be smoking pot.  How many kids get sent to program for smoking cigarettes?  Which is more addictive?

They scare parents, creating demand, for a full range of products, from which the sale of they profit either directly or indirectly (pharmaceuticals, programs, political donations, jobs, etc...)  It's such an old, used, tried and true scheme...  The more I think about how broken the system is the more I say "burn it all down".  Please God let there be a revolution...

Maybe it's because I've been doing midterm stuff the past week and have been away from Fornits but I'm really really far more pissed than usual today.

God damn this shit.  I say we find a small state, migrate and secede. I'm sick to death of most people in this country.  No wonder I'm moving back to Europe.  This country is terminally ill.

[Deborah]

From NATSAP Newsletter

Four pre-conference workshops will be offered to our program members and their staff at the 2007 NATSAP Exploring our Profession Conference. The Public Policy Committee is pleased to present a pre-conference workshop on Legislation, Politics & Advocacy. We are fortunate to have Hon. Andrea G. Barthwell, M.D. and Michael C. Barnes as the facilitators of the workshop.

Dr. Andrea Barthwell served as deputy drug czar under President George W. Bush. While serving in the Executive Office of the President, Dr. Barthwell played an active role on the White House Task Force on Disadvantaged Youth and the White House Domestic Violence Working Group. Dr. Barthwell is a past president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the CEO of the health policy consulting firm EMGlobal LLC. Dr. Barthwell is an advisor to NATSAP and select member programs on matters of policy and practice.

Michael C. Barnes, Esq., is a principal in DCBA Law, PLLC, a Washington, DC, federal affairs firm with a niche practice in education, substance abuse, and mental health policy. Mr. Barnes formerly served as confidential counsel in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. DCBA Law provides counsel to NATSAP on federal legislative matters.

The Public Relations Committee has acquired the services of Media Specialist Matt Hagan, founder of Bulldog Public Relations to facilitate their Working with the Media workshop. Matt began his career working in front of a camera as a general assignment reporter for a CBS network affiliate and launched his career into public/media relations in Washington, DC. He has excellent news judgment and strong relationships with members of the media.

Advocacy for NATSAP Members Continues in Washington, DCNATSAP was the proud co-host of a reception in Washington, DC on December 14th. Prior to the reception, Dr. Karen Fitzhugh and Jan Moss were able to participate in several lengthy meetings with Congressional staffers from Representatives Van Hollen, Woolsey and Stark?s offices, each of whom are co-sponsors of Representative George Miller?s bill, HR 1738. The reception offered the opportunity for important networking where Dr. Fitzhugh and Ms. Moss met with Tommy Thompson (a presidential hopeful for 2008), providing him an introduction to NATSAP and the important work of our members. They also met the Senior Aide to Senator Diane Feinstein, just to highlight a few. It was quite extraordinary the level of welcome received from every visit and event on the Hill.

They met for several hours with Dr.Andrea Barthwell to discuss the process for NATSAP?s involvement in the language for Mr. Miller?s bill. Discussion is also in progress with Mark Covall, Executive Director of the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, and his staff, who have joined NATSAP?s efforts regarding this bill. Dr. Fitzhugh and Ms.Moss also had a wonderful visit with Mark Sklarow at IECA?s offices in Fairfax, VA, which both Michael Barnes, DCBA Law, and Dr. Andrea Barthwell attended. Mark expressed IECA?s interest in supporting NATSAP as we move forward to amend the bill. As the committees are finalized on the Hill and Representatives assigned, Dr. Fitzhugh, Ms. Moss and Rosemary Tippett will be escalating their efforts in DC, no doubt making frequent trips between now and our 2007 Conference.

[ZenAgent]

They met for several hours with Dr.Andrea Barthwell to discuss the process for NATSAP?s involvement in the language for Mr. Miller?s bill. Discussion is also in progress with Mark Covall, Executive Director of the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, and his staff, who have joined NATSAP?s efforts regarding this bill. Dr. Fitzhugh and Ms.Moss also had a wonderful visit with Mark Sklarow at IECA?s offices in Fairfax, VA, which both Michael Barnes, DCBA Law, and Dr. Andrea Barthwell attended. Mark expressed IECA?s interest in supporting NATSAP as we move forward to amend the bill. As the committees are finalized on the Hill and Representatives assigned, Dr. Fitzhugh, Ms. Moss and Rosemary Tippett will be escalating their efforts in DC, no doubt making frequent trips between now and our 2007 Conference.

Unbelievable.  The good news is, Sen. Miller will not be too keen on NATSAP's involvement in "the language" of his bill.  Twenty years into fighting abusive programs, he's well aware of NATSAP.  All he has to do is pick up the phone and call contacts at A START to get any info he wants on NATSAP to show the bias they bring to any "discussions".  One quick scan of the requirements for NATSAP membership show what a toothless, self-serving smoke screen it is.  "Bulldog PR" sounds like just the firm to handle NATSAP.

[Deborah]

Barthwell to the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention:
Andrea Barthwell, M.D., Deputy Director for Demand Reduction, ONDCP, reported to the Council on ONDCP's Marijuana Initiative. The Office of Demand Reduction is targeting the large population of youthful nondependent users in this effort.

Marijuana is a powerful and potent substance, and initiation and use of the drug are at an all-time high.  :question:  The younger children are when they first use marijuana, the more likely they are to use cocaine and heroin and become dependent on drugs as adults.  :question:  The last National Household Survey on Drug Abuse showed there were 14 million American users of marijuana. If use is initiated before the age of 15, 9 percent use heroin, almost 54 percent misuse psychotherapeutics, and 62 percent use cocaine. :question:

More young people are now in treatment for marijuana than for alcohol. [Why? See below.] Marijuana use has increased dramatically as a cause for emergency room visits :question: , leads to changes in the brain :question: , and impairs the ability of young people to retain information :question: . Weekly users are almost four times more likely to engage in violent behavior. :question:

Recent ballot initiatives in three States calling for decriminalization, legalization, and medicalization of marijuana were rejected by voters. Obstacles to the demand reduction initiative include myths; cultural beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors; cynicism; and hypocrisy. Myths about marijuana use include the following.

Marijuana is harmless. There is clear and compelling scientific evidence that this is not true. :question:
Marijuana is not addictive. There is clear and compelling scientific evidence that this is not true. :question:
Youth experimentation with marijuana is inevitable. Although 51 percent of high school seniors have tried the drug, 49 percent have not.
Marijuana is not associated with domestic and international acts of terror or violence as are drugs like cocaine or heroin. There is clear and compelling scientific evidence that it is associated with violence. :question:
Prisons are filled with nonviolent, casual marijuana users. There is clear and compelling scientific evidence that this is not true. :question:
 
ONDCP will use this clear and compelling scientific evidence  :rofl: to deliver its message to the American public. There are potential harms and risks associated with marijuana; there are increased health and public health complications; and there are multiple, negative consequences of marijuana use.

This initiative will be implemented within the framework of ONDCP's other programs, including the Anti-Drug Media Campaign, Just Say No, and Safe and Drug-Free Schools. The foundation for preventing the initiation of drug use is through strengthening the core values that are learned in the home. ONDCP is looking to faith-based programs, physicians, laws, and public expectations to reinforce and communicate the non-drug message. ONDCP is working with ED to deter drug use through drug testing in the schools and with the HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's program to disseminate information to treatment providers.
~~

Of course we knew this already but it doesn't hurt to have an official report to back up our contention that the ONDCP's propaganda about admissions to rehab programs for alleged marijuana addiction is driven almost solely by the criminal justice system. From NORML.

According to a new report published by the Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS), Fifty-eight percent of those entering drug treatment for marijuana in 2002 were referred by the criminal justice system, up from 48 percent in 1992. Referrals from schools and health care/drug abuse care providers comprised another 15 percent of all admissions...

"Contrary to the Bush Administration's claims, it is marijuana prohibition - not the use of marijuana itself - that is driving up rates of marijuana 'treatment' admissions," NORML Senior Policy Analyst Paul Armentano said. "The record increase in the number of individuals now seeking 'treatment' for cannabis is due to a proportional increase in the number of those arrested by law enforcement for marijuana violations and subsequently referred to drug treatment by the criminal justice system. Primarily, these are young people arrested for minor pot possession offenses, brought before a criminal judge or drug court, and ordered to drug rehabilitation in lieu of jail or juvenile detention."

According to a previous 2002 DASIS report, since 1995 the proportion of marijuana treatment admissions from all sources other than the criminal justice system has actually declined.
NORML Senior Policy Analyst Paul Armentano gets it right.
"At a time when tens of thousands of Americans are being denied access to drug treatment due to a lack of bed space or federal funding, it is unconscionable that these clinics are bursting at the seams needlessly housing marijuana smokers," he said.

[TheWho]

Unbelievable. The good news is, Sen. Miller will not be too keen on NATSAP's involvement in "the language" ozf his bill. Twenty years into fighting abusive programs, he's well aware of NATSAP. All he has to do is pick up the phone and call contacts at A START to get any info he wants on NATSAP to show the bias they bring to any "discussions". One quick scan of the requirements for NATSAP membership show what a toothless, self-serving smoke screen it is. "Bulldog PR" sounds like just the firm to handle NATSAP

Its this type of mentality that caused the bill to sit on the shelf for 2 years.

Working with Rep. George Miller (D-CA), we can eliminate the bad programs and implement best practices in the rest,? she said.

?Anecdotes told by family members harmed in a bad program do not begin to tell the story of real pain and destruction we could experience if this industry were regulated out of existence,? she added. ?We need reform to eliminate programs that prey on desperate families while preserving vital components in the continuum of care.?

Look, the bill has been stalled for 2 years.  It was assigned to 2 committees for review * .  Why not get all the people involved to discuss the language, reword it and get the thing passed?  If Miller included everyone to begin with this would have happened 2 years ago.  This is why we formed the congress so one person can?t silence opposing arguments and force a bill thru.  Unless everyone is involved, the bill will stay on George Millers desk.  George knows the drill!!  All the work is done before the bill is introduced to congress, the introduction is just formality.  If you don?t involve, sell or discuss your bill with everyone prior to introduction it is going to sit there until you do.  If you remember Dale Kildee, Major Owens and Fortney Stark busted their humps to get by-in on this bill while the other (what 6 or 7 cosponsors) sat on their hands, worked on obscure local social security issues or maybe trying the approach of keeping people out of the process.  More could have been done to pull people into the process.

The? House education and workforce, subcommittee on select education? has well over 130 measures pending committee consideration as of last month.  HR 1738 isnt even on the list and is in the primary stage of the legislative process.  If Miller pushes (or turns a blind eye) to alienate people from the process, I guarantee the bill will stay where it is.

* ? House education and workforce, subcommittee on select education and
House international relations, Subcommittee on Africa, Global human rights and international operations.

[Anonymous]

And let's invite Osama bin Laden to discuss our next anti-terrorism bill while we're at it.

Deb, Zen, I'm sure George Miller is too shielded to bother listening to the scumbags, but what about his co-sponsors? Think they might need some grassroots political lovin'?

[TheWho]

And let's invite Osama bin Laden to discuss our next anti-terrorism bill while we're at it.

Deb, Zen, I'm sure George Miller is too shielded to bother listening to the scumbags, but what about his co-sponsors? Think they might need some grassroots political lovin'?

That didnt take long !!  I rest my case.....  "Lets just talk to the few people that agree with us, alienate the rest and then introduce the bill into Congess and see what happens...."   Hmmmm... That was 2 years ago and counting..... I wonder what went wrong?  Why didnt everyone support my bill?

[ZenAgent]

And let's invite Osama bin Laden to discuss our next anti-terrorism bill while we're at it.

Deb, Zen, I'm sure George Miller is too shielded to bother listening to the scumbags, but what about his co-sponsors? Think they might need some grassroots political lovin'?

I've got a friend at A START who's known Sen. Miller for twenty years.  She interviewed my family last Sunday for part of A START's presentation at the conference in FL next week.  I'll find out more about the co-sponsors.  Miller is in charge of the committee since the Dems got a foothold again.  We'll barrage the Republican members...

[ZenAgent]

And let's invite Osama bin Laden to discuss our next anti-terrorism bill while we're at it.

Deb, Zen, I'm sure George Miller is too shielded to bother listening to the scumbags, but what about his co-sponsors? Think they might need some grassroots political lovin'?

That didnt take long !!  I rest my case.....  "Lets just talk to the few people that agree with us, alienate the rest and then introduce the bill into Congess and see what happens...."   Hmmmm... That was 2 years ago and counting..... I wonder what went wrong?  Why didnt everyone support my bill?

Republicans were in charge.  Dubya loves teen torture, his buddy Mel Selmer enlightened him.

[Antigen]

So it's down to the Bush ppl and DFAF and the industry itself to duke it out? Surprise, surprise!
 :roll:

[TheWho]

And let's invite Osama bin Laden to discuss our next anti-terrorism bill while we're at it.

Deb, Zen, I'm sure George Miller is too shielded to bother listening to the scumbags, but what about his co-sponsors? Think they might need some grassroots political lovin'?

I've got a friend at A START who's known Sen. Miller for twenty years.  She interviewed my family last Sunday for part of A START's presentation at the conference in FL next week.  I'll find out more about the co-sponsors.  Miller is in charge of the committee since the Dems got a foothold again.  We'll barrage the Republican members...

Here is a head start:

Miller cosponsors:

 --Dale Kildee, U.S. Representative (D-MI)
 --James (Jim) McDermott, U.S. Representative (D-WA)
 --Major Owens, U.S. Representative (D-NY)
 --Fortney (Pete) Stark, U.S. Representative (D-CA)
 --Christopher (Chris) Van Hollen, Jr., U.S. Representative (D-MD)
 --Nydia Velázquez, U.S. Representative (D-NY)
 --Lynn Woolsey, U.S. Representative (D-CA)
 --David Wu, U.S. Representative (D-OR)

[ZenAgent]

And let's invite Osama bin Laden to discuss our next anti-terrorism bill while we're at it.

Deb, Zen, I'm sure George Miller is too shielded to bother listening to the scumbags, but what about his co-sponsors? Think they might need some grassroots political lovin'?

I've got a friend at A START who's known Sen. Miller for twenty years.  She interviewed my family last Sunday for part of A START's presentation at the conference in FL next week.  I'll find out more about the co-sponsors.  Miller is in charge of the committee since the Dems got a foothold again.  We'll barrage the Republican members...

Here is a head start:

Miller cosponsors:

 --Dale Kildee, U.S. Representative (D-MI)
 --James (Jim) McDermott, U.S. Representative (D-WA)
 --Major Owens, U.S. Representative (D-NY)
 --Fortney (Pete) Stark, U.S. Representative (D-CA)
 --Christopher (Chris) Van Hollen, Jr., U.S. Representative (D-MD)
 --Nydia Velázquez, U.S. Representative (D-NY)
 --Lynn Woolsey, U.S. Representative (D-CA)
 --David Wu, U.S. Representative (D-OR)

Okay...I'll send them all some NATSAP truth.  In theory, the government is supposed to have a check and balance system.  Abusive programs can't oversee abusive programs.  End of story.