Section 110101 of the ´Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994´ will expire in four days. In the 2000 campaign Bush was expected to reauthorize the law. During his confirmation hearing in January 2001 Attorney General John Ashcroft was also supportive:

FEINSTEIN: Will you support its reauthorization when it sunsets in 2004?
ASHCROFT: It is my understanding that the president-elect of the United States has indicated his clear support for extending the cocaine ban, and I would be pleased to move forward with that position and to support that as a policy of this president and as a policy of the Justice Department.

Now let´s tune in to the September 8th Whitehouse Press Gaggle with Scott McClellan

Q The sale and purchase ban on cocaine expires in just a few days. Can you list for us the many things the President might be doing to encourage Congress to send him the bill that he said he would sign?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President’s views have been made very clear, and the best way we can reduce drug abuse is to strictly enforce our laws. And prosecutions under this administration are up. I think it’s — well, it’s more than 60 percent — I think 68 percent over the previous administration. That’s the best way to crack down on drugs. That’s an important issue here in terms of the cocaine sale and purchase ban. He’s made his views very well-known.

Q And his view is he’ll sign it if —

MR. McCLELLAN: He’s made his views known as recently as this week.

Q His view is he’ll sign it if it comes to him. Is he doing anything to make sure he —

MR. McCLELLAN: The President supports the reauthorization of current law.

Q What is he doing to actively make sure — is he doing anything to make sure he —

MR. McCLELLAN: The President doesn’t set the congressional timetable.

Q No, but he can lobby for it.

MR. McCLELLAN: Congress sets the timetable. And the President’s views are very clear.

Q Has he made any calls or anything to encourage this to happen?

MR. McCLELLAN: What we’ve continued to do — because this issue does go to the issue of abuses committed with drugs, as well — and what we’ve continued to do is step up our efforts to prosecute abuses committed with drugs and strictly enforce our laws. And that’s the best way we can deter abuses committed with drugs.

Q But he did something this week?

Q But he’s not doing anything to make sure this doesn’t lapse on the 13th?

MR. McCLELLAN: We’ll continue to make our views known.

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