Drug Task Forces Warn of 'Disastrous Effects' if Funding Cut

GREAT FALLS – Officials with Montana’s seven drug task forces say budget cuts proposed by the Bush administration could have disastrous effects on efforts to stem drug use and sales in the state.

The law enforcement officials were in Great Falls on Monday to discuss the situation with U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and other state and local lawmakers.

Tester says he convened the Montana Drugbusters Summit so he could arm himself with information to take back to Washington, D.C. The Montana Democrat says he will fight to restore the $350 million in proposed budget cuts to the nationwide grant program.

The Montana task forces are teams of county and city officers assigned to investigate and break up the use and sale of drugs, mostly methamphetamine and cocaine.

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