Solomon's Vendetta
Solomon's Vendetta
(from June 1995 Marijuana Policy Report)
U.S. Representative Gerald Solomon (R-New York) is perhaps the most powerful, outspoken prohibitionist in Congress. The ex-Marine representing the rural, staunchly conservative 22nd congressional district has made a career out of viciously attacking illicit drug users, draft dodgers, flag burners, and other counterculture icons.
Solomon's obsession with illicit drugs apparently is not based on a sincere desire to minimize the harm associated with these substances. Instead, he is aggressively pursuing a cultural war, intent on wiping out certain alternative lifestyles and modes of social and political thought deemed offensive by him and many of his constituents.
Solomon's tactics and rhetoric are often reminiscent of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy's Red Scare of the 1950s. The March 1995 Congressional Quarterly profile of Solomon noted his reaction to the January 1991 ground offensive against Iraq. Solomon pontificated on the House floor, "What we cannot be proud of is the unshaven, shaggy-haired, drug culture, poor excuses for Americans, wearing their tiny round wire-rim glasses, a protester's symbol of the blame-America-first crowd, out in front of the White House burning the American flag." (emphasis added)
Solomon's agenda cannot be furthered by arresting people for having shaggy hair or wearing "John Lennon" glasses. However, Solomon can use his power to bolster the war against the "drug culture." And that he does with a vengeance.
Legislative Attacks
With each new Congress, Solomon introduces a slew of bills to increase the scope and severity of the penalties for drug-law violations. Several of these have become law. For example, the "Solomon-Lautenberg amendment" to the 1991 Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (passed in 1990) mandates that a state or territory lose a certain percentage of its allotted federal highway funds unless it enacts a law to suspend the driver's license of anyone convicted of any drug offense. Nineteen states complied by enacting such legislation. (The other states complied by passing special "opt-out" resolutions.)
This "smoke a joint, lose your license" mandate was specifically intended to punish marijuana consumers in the 10 states in which marijuana is decriminalized (possession of a personal-use amount carries only a small fine).
Somewhat preoccupied with urine, Solomon has sponsored successful amendments requiring drug-testing of employees of the CIA, Coast Guard, NASA, and the D.C. Metro transit system.
House Floor Speeches
Solomon routinely makes speeches on the House floor during the extensions of remarks periods, preaching about the dangers of illicit substances and vociferously attacking the movement to "legalize drugs." The following excerpts are from Solomon's speech of April 6, 1995, as it appeared in the Congressional Record:
"... the time has come to refocus our sites [sic] on the number one problem in this country, drugs."
"As a Marine I can assure you that you don't win a fight, battle or a war by giving up."
"Legalization was jettisoned with Joycelyn [Elders] and is not coming back. However, it is useful if your real purpose is to influence young people to try and use drugs."
[Regarding tax-exempt drug policy reform organizations]: "They need to be investigated and their contributors should be required to pay taxes on past contributions. ... The time has come to expose some of these more sinister organizations and the seedy individuals involved with them. ..."
Solomon proceeded to enter into the record an article by former Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) William Bennett, "Renewing the War on Drugs," and an article lambasting ABC news for its April 6 special report, "America's War on Drugs: Searching for Solutions," written by former Acting Director and Deputy Director of ONDCP John Walters.
Solomon also spoke on March 2, arguing that "drug decriminalization in Holland has increased crime and addiction," submitting into the record an article by ultra-prohibitionist Dr. Eric A. Voth, chair of the International Drug Strategy Institute. Solomon spoke on the House floor twice on February 3, arguing that drugs are responsible for most other social problems and that the drug war should be fought with a renewed vigor.
Solomon's Political Background
Solomon has been riding high on marijuana-bashing from the time he first ran for Congress against incumbent U.S. Representative Ned Pattison (D) in 1978. According to the Congressional Quarterly, Pattison admitted to having tried marijuana; subsequently, conservatives in the district referred to him as "Pot-tison." Solomon won with 54 percent of the vote.
Solomon, a long-time advocate for veterans, labor unions, and rural-American values, enjoys a tremendous amount of support from voters in his district. Indeed, only one Democrat — Pattison — has held that seat in this century. Solomon typically wins his re-elections with more than 65% of the vote.
New Power
Upon the Republicans' takeover of the House on January 4, Solomon became chair of the powerful Rules Committee. This committee determines when a bill will be considered on the floor and sets the terms of the debate, including time limits and amendment procedures. (See How Laws Are Made.)
This gives Solomon tremendous influence over the outcome of pending legislation, enabling him to thwart pro-reform bills and advance drug-war bills.
Solomon's destructive potential should inspire harm reduction supporters — especially in New York's 22nd district — to get politically active. He is a living example of what complacency on the part of pro-reform citizens brings. If enough people who believe that marijuana users should not be severely punished would organize, focus, and work for reform, people like Solomon could be replaced with reasonable, compassionate leaders. At the very least, a resounding and persistent message from pro-reform constituents to their members of Congress could diminish the prohibitionists' effectiveness and pave the way for some reform — such as medicinal marijuana legislation — in the near future.
New Bills
Solomon has introduced 11 new bills so far this session to increase the severity of the drug war. The MPP is monitoring the progress of these bills — and will take direct action and suggest projects for activists in the Marijuana Policy Report when necessary. To date, there have been no subcommittee hearings on any of these bills, and nearly half have not yet gained any cosponsors.
The information on the following bills is presented in this format: numerical name; additional cosponsors (if any); purpose (as stated in the bill); further description, if needed.
(All were introduced by U.S. Rep. Solomon; all except H.R. 1453 were introduced on January 4.)
H.R. 1453: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to deny tax-exempt status to organizations which promote the legalization of certain drugs. (Solomon also vowed to offer this as an amendment "to the first appropriate vehicle.")
H.R. 135 (Barton, Dornan, Myrick, Sensenbrenner): To prohibit federally sponsored research pertaining to the legalization of drugs.
H.R. 138 (Dornan, Myrick, Sensenbrenner): To amend the Controlled Substances Act to require that courts, upon the criminal conviction under that Act, notify the employer of the convicted person. (This includes possessing a single joint for personal use!)
H.R. 143 (Dornan, Myrick, Rohrabacher): To require the pre-employment drug testing of applicants for federal employment.
H.R. 148: To require random drug testing of federal legislative branch officers and employees.
H.R. 136 (Barton, Dornan, Myrick, Rohrabacher): To require random drug testing within the executive branch of the federal government.
H.R. 160: To require random drug testing of federal judicial branch officers and employees.
H.R. 134 (Barton, Myrick): To suspend federal education benefits to individuals convicted of drug offenses. (Even a first offense for possession of a joint would elicit a one-year ineligibility period. A third offense would elicit permanent ineligibility.)
H.R. 141 (Barton, Dornan, Myrick, Sensenbrenner, Weller): To amend the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to eliminate the discretion of the court in connection with the denial of certain federal benefits upon conviction of certain drug offenses.
H.R. 147: To ... modify the death penalty for drug kingpins. (This would effectively lower the minimum quantity of marijuana for which a person may be executed — from 60,000 plants or kilograms to 30,000 plants or kilograms.)
H.R. 153: To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish federal standards to ensure quality assurance of drug testing programs. ...
Free copies of the above bills can be obtained by calling the office of your U.S. representative. (If you don't know the name of your U.S. representative, call the congressional switchboard operator at 202-224-3121.)
Conclusion
From Solomon's narrow, polarized perspective, anything less than a full-scale war against everyone with any involvement with presently illegal drugs is, at best, giving up — and, at worst, intentionally promoting drug abuse. Even discussing alternatives to prohibition and drug wars is "sinister."
When Solomon introduced his latest series of bills on January 4, he stated, "We cannot solve the crime and violence problems which plague this country without an all-out war on drugs. ... It is imperative that we put tough new laws on the books to hold both casual and heavy drug users accountable."
The MPP contends that an "all-out war" is inappropriate for marijuana users — casual or heavy. People who abuse marijuana need help, not punishment. People who use marijuana responsibly should be left alone. Realistic education and reasonable regulations could prevent marijuana consumers from hurting themselves or others. Finally, no marijuana consumer should be forced to interact with a criminal subculture, risk purchasing adulterated marijuana, or suffer alienation from the community and the workplace.
It is possible to have a safe and orderly society while safeguarding the freedom and dignity of people who choose alternative lifestyles. We must overcome 1960s-era cultural schisms and bigotry and instead work to minimize the harm associated with marijuana. | 
