cannabisnews.com: Hutchinson Moves Eagerly Into New Drug Job Hutchinson Moves Eagerly Into New Drug Job Posted by FoM on August 09, 2001 at 10:47:34 PT By Kevin Freking Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Asa Hutchinson didn't need much of a break between jobs. On Friday he resigned as congressman of Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District. On Wednesday, Attorney General John Ashcroft swore him in as the director of the Drug Enforcement Administration. "It would be nice to have some time off, but there is an opportunity here, and I want to seize that," Hutchinson said from his new 12th-floor office in Alexandria, Va. "I want to impress upon people the urgency of what we're doing, and I think I'm needed right now." Actually, Hutchinson didn't even wait until Wednesday to begin his new job. He spent Tuesday moving some files, filling out paperwork and undergoing a briefing from the agency's chief counsel on ethics. Members of the executive branch must abide by stricter guidelines on such matters as gift and travel than those in the legislative branch. Hutchinson referred to the day as his "vacation day." Hutchinson reported for his first official day of duty about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday when he met with the outgoing administrator, Donnie Marshall. He then attended a couple of receptions that allowed former President Clinton's appointee to say goodbye to the staff. The first reception was for 30 to 40 executive staff members. The next reception was for the hundreds who work at DEA headquarters. Around the world the drug agency has more than 9,100 employees in 78 offices in 56 countries. An aide to Hutchinson described the meeting between Hutchinson and Marshall as friendly, the two each taking time in front of the staff to compliment the work of the other. Hutchinson took a $12,000 a year pay cut to become the DEA administrator. As a lawmaker, he earned $141,500 a year. But his present office is palatial in comparison to his former office on Capitol Hill. The view is magnificent, and he proudly pointed out that few others in the Washington area offer a view of so many famous sights at one time: the Pentagon, the White House, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. Hutchinson spent much of Wednesday meeting with key advisers. In the morning he was briefed on up-to-the minute events concerning the drug agency around the world. Then he met with Ashcroft for lunch and took the oath of office. It was a brief, nonceremonial event. A swearing-in ceremony for family, friends and the public will be held Aug. 20. Hutchinson described the attorney general as gracious. "It was a good moment, because he looked at me and remarked that he was just amazed that I was willing to leave the House to take on this responsibility," he said. "I just stressed to him how excited I was to be working on this important mission." In the afternoon Hutchinson was apprised of the agency's budget needs for fiscal 2003, which is about 14 months away. His budget for the current year is about $1.7 billion. "I'm doing a lot of listening at first. I'm not going to come in here and change everything, but I want to display the enthusiasm that I have and the importance of this mission to America and America's future," Hutchinson said. "My stamp is, I want to impress on the need for excellence -- excellence in the way we go after our mission and the way we conduct our cases and the integrity in which we operate. That's been the reputation of this agency, and I want to continue that." Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (AR) Author: Kevin FrekingPublished: Thursday, August 9, 2001Copyright: 2001 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Contact: voices ardemgaz.com Website: http://www.ardemgaz.com/ Related Articles:Drug-Agency Chief Expects Progress in Enforcement http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10552.shtmlDEA Chief Promises To End Inflated Arrest Datahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10532.shtmlNew DEA Chief Suggests 'Compassionate' Policyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10510.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by Patrick on August 09, 2001 at 14:58:05 PT Asa Hutchinson's typical day at the office. Day 1. Vacation day:"Hutchinson took a $12,000 a year pay cut to become the DEA administrator. As a lawmaker, he earned $141,500 a year. But his present office is palatial in comparison to his former office on Capitol Hill. The view is magnificent, and he proudly pointed out that few others in the Washington area offer a view of so many famous sights at one time: the Pentagon, the White House, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.""In the afternoon Hutchinson was apprised of the agency's budget needs for fiscal 2003, which is about 14 months away. His budget for the current year is about $1.7 billion."Next day8am: Admire view.9am: Read Bill of Rights (finally)10am: Read Constitution again12am: Lunch1pm: Admire the view again and notice the Lincoln & Jefferson Memorials, and the Washington monument hmm? Freedom? 3pm: Begin reading the words of Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson. 4pm: Realize that Drug War is immoral and a violation of individual liberty, not to mention unconstitutional.5pm: Call President buddy a with plan to become the Drug Education Agency and spend the 1.7 billion dollars of taxpayer money to assist our citizens instead of locking them up.6pm: Go home to dinner, a movie, and see if I am on TV. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment