Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 28, 1991 TAG: 9102280537
SECTION: NATL/INTL PAGE: A/2 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Biden, D-Del., announced his decision to vote for Martinez at the close of two days of hearings Wednesday.
Democrats blasted Martinez's credentials as well as his drug-fighting record in Florida, saying his drug plan was too oriented toward law enforcement to the detriment of drug treatment and education. Even the drug-law enforcement boomeranged, they said, because resulting prison overcrowding forced the early release of violent criminals.
Despite sometimes harsh words, both Democrats and Republicans said they expected Martinez to be confirmed as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to succeed William J. Bennett, who resigned in November.
The Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on the nomination March 7.
The only committee member who has announced he probably will vote against Martinez is Sen. Paul Simon, D-Ill. Simon said he found inadequate the nominee's vows to stay away from partisan politics while directing the drug policy office.
Biden expressed some uneasiness about voting for Martinez. He said he planned to work with the nominee "with great reservation in some areas, with no reservations in others."
The chairman said Martinez's background and competence meet "the minimum level that is required, although I am not convinced that he comes to this job with what I would hope a drug director would come to this job with, understanding that you can't be an expert on all of the fields."
The nomination of the one-term Florida governor, who was defeated for re-election last year, has been criticized by some Democrats as a political payoff. President Bush made appearances on behalf of Martinez and a son, Jeb Bush, was his campaign manager.
Martinez denied the payoff assertions when he testified Tuesday.
Biden said he hoped Martinez would capitalize on whatever closeness he has with the president because that friendship was "the most encouraging thing" about the nomination.
"He has to get the president's ear in his battles with the various other agencies," Biden said. "And I hope that it's as strong a relationship as has been advertised."
As for Martinez's drug-fighting record, Biden said he believed the nominee was not very enthusiastic about drug abuse prevention and initially "maybe paid a lot more lip service to it."
"I'm convinced also that as he got involved, that his degree of sensitivity about the value of education and the value of treatment is on the upward swing. I sincerely hope my judgment is correct about that," Biden said.
On the issue of old allegations by a former U.S. attorney that Martinez received a bribe in 1979 and then lied about it during a 1987 trial, Biden said, "I am convinced that they are not well founded."
by CNB