House, Senate Reach Accord on Drug Bill : Compromise Results in Tentative OK for Death Penalty

House and Senate negotiators reached agreements on a compromise anti-drug bill today as they raced to complete the only measure keeping Congress in session this election year.

With many members already campaigning for reelection back home, colleagues writing the drug bill came to tentative agreement on death penalty language. They closed in on an agreement to deny some federal benefits to convicted drug offenders, including users.

Senate leaders have said the chamber might approve the drug bill by voice vote if enough members are reluctant to return to Washington to conduct a roll call. House members returned Wednesday after nearly a week off and are expected to remain at the Capitol for the drug vote, which would be scheduled Friday at the earliest.

Senate Language Dropped

Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said negotiators agreed to drop Senate-passed language designed to strengthen anti-obscenity laws. House members argued successfully that the language gave the federal government too much power over what Americans view or read.

In return, Biden said, the House appeared willing to accept Senate language on denial of benefits to drug users. The punishment would deny grants, contracts, loans, mortgage guarantees and permits, but not affect Social Security, Medicare, veterans’ assistance and welfare.

The Senate language would give judges discretion over whether to deny benefits.

Murder During Felony

Negotiators agreed that the death penalty could apply if a murder was committed during a felony drug crime and if the killer was engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise; was trafficking in major amounts of cocaine, heroin or other drugs; intentionally gave an order that resulted in a killing, or killed a police officer.

One key House law enforcement section was dropped from the bill Wednesday night.

The House provision would have permitted introduction in federal court of evidence seized illegally but in “good faith”--even when a search was made without a warrant. Current law permits the good-faith exception only when searches are conducted with warrants.