Drug Administrator Confirmation Hearing

The committee heard testimony on the confirmation of Robert Martinez, former governor of Florida, as the director of the National Drug Control Policy, replacing William Bennett, who resigned late last year. Mr. Martinez, during his tenure as governor of Florida, emphasized enforcement of anti-drug laws over treatment for drug dependency and rehabilitation. Under the current federal budget, approximately two-thirds of the money allotted to fight drugs goes towards enforcement of anti-drug laws, with the other third going towards treatment and drug education. Democrats on the committee questioned Mr. Martinez record, both in fighting drugs and in a number of situations in which his ethical standards were questioned. Mr. Martinez defended his ethical record, his anti-drug record and the Bush Administration’s fight against drugs. He also said his friendship with President Bush, fostered by the fact that President Bush’s son Jeb had been a member of Mr. Martinez’s cabinet during his tenure close