Committee looks at Clinton police plan

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Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999 | 10:25 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- A House subcommittee was scheduled today to discuss President Clinton's COPS program, his initiative to put 100,000 new officers on the streets of America and a cornerstone of his anti-crime effort.

Clinton this week vetoed a bill that would finance the nation's commerce, judiciary and state departments because he believes Congress did not approve enough money in the bill for his 5-year-old COPS plan. The Clinton administration reports that the initiative has funneled $2.74 million to Metro Police and hired 34 new Metro officers.

Republican critics were scheduled to analyze the program today in the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime.

Critics say the program is subject to fraud and poor management and that poor communities can't afford the keep up with the costs when federal money dries up. They say more than $6 billion has been spent on the program and that 60,000 officers, not 100,000, have actually been hired.