Yesterday, Gov. Mark Warner set strict limits on the sale of "over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, which are sometimes used to make methamphetamines." Tim Kaine hailed the move. Jerry Kilgore attacked it. What, you ask? Why would anyone oppose Mark Warner's move to "stop this scourge [of Methamphetamines] in Virginia?" Wouldn't it be, as Mark Warner said yesterday, "irresponsible for the state not to act, as we see how these actions have dramatically cut back on meth labs in other states?" Well, according to Jerry Kilgore, who supports only VOLUNTARY measures ("Meth Watch") to cut back on this severe problem, the overriding concern is NOT the citizens of Virginia but the potential "impact this could have on rural retailers." In contrast, Tim Kaine believes that "The dire consequences to the health and safety of Virginians posed by the manufacture and use of meth are too great a risk to meet with anything less than mandatory measures."
So why is Jerry Kilgore so weak on fighting a drug epidemic in our state? Gee, I wonder. You think it might have something to do with what our resident sleuth Nichole Herbig found back in March? To refresh our memories, here's what she wrote at the time:
Q. What do Kilgore and Methamphetamine labs have in common?
A. They both rely on KING PHARMACEUTICAL to keep their operations running.Kilgore?s TOP donor, who has given Kilgore a WHOPPING $250,000 since 10/02 (including $100,000 in 2004), is none other then Mr. Big Pharmaceutical himself, John Gregory, the founder of King Pharmaceuticals. This is company is based, not out of Virginia, but out of Tennessee.
Q. Why is this a big deal?
A. Because Kilgore started ?Meth Watch? a program ?designed? to combat the growing methamphetamine problem in Virginia, in 2004. When Kilgore took office in 2002, 5 meth labs were seized; in 2004, 78 were seized.So now we have ?Meth Watch,? which is a VOLUNTARY program because Kilgore says that ?Well you never want to require that individuals participate in certain programs.? (Source: WSLS NewsChannel 10, Jan 25, 2005).
This program has worked well in all states where it is mandatory, Kansas and Washington State are fantastic examples of a mandatory program.
Q. Why would Kilgore not want to make it mandatory?
A. How does one make meth? The first choice ingredient is ephedrine but since that is illegal to purchase, ?drug dealers use pseudoephedrine, found in many over-the-counter medicines.? (Source: http://www.kci.org/meth_info/making_meth.htm), which can be found in AT LEAST SIX products that KING PHARMACEUTICAL produces.
So I ask you, what stake would a millionaire in Tennessee have in a Virginia election, that he donates such a hefty amount to Kilgore? Hmmmmm?.good question. Maybe the Kilgore campaign can explain.
As a side note, Kilgore?s next highest donor has only given him $90,000, 65% less then John Gregory.
Not to draw any conclusions here, but isn't it a bit, um, "interesting" that Jerry Kilgore gets large amounts of money from a man who profits greatly from the trade in Methamphetamines (the manufacture of which relies on an incredient found in SIX products that his company churns out)? Does Jerry Kilgore care more about John Gregory's profits or a drug epidemic in Virginia? Unfortunately, the answer to this question -- based on Kilgore's words and actions, not on any conjecture or wild guesses -- is obvious. THIS is the kind of leadership we can expect if we are crazy enough to elect Jerry Kilgore this November. Government by the big pharamaceuticals, of the big pharmaceuticals, and fore the big pharmaceuticals.
Alternatively, you can vote for Tim Kaine, and get someone who will actually protect THE PEOPLE of Virginia.
Tough choice, huh?