July 23, 2003

Republicans Nix Homeland Security Funding

Hard to believe that the Republicans oppose increasing funding for domestic homeland security, when everyone knows that states, first responders (i.e., police, fire, medical and public health authorities) and federal agencies are all struggling mightily with massive new security responsibilities. Senate Rejects Bid to Boost Homeland Security Funding [washingtonpost.com] A recent Council of Foreign Relations task force report warned in graphic language that local responders remain "dangerously unprepared" for a catastrophic attack.

The United States has not reached a sufficient level of emergency preparedness and remains dangerously unprepared to handle a catastrophic attack on American soil, particularly one involving chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents or coordinated high-impact conventional means.

The CFR report concludes that funding for emergency responders may need to be tripled over the next five years.

The Republicans, claiming budget woes when the Bush tax cuts have put the US in a new era of deficits, have just handed the otherwise lame-ass Demcrats a major campaign issue for 2004. Let's hope disaster does not strike in the interim.

 Posted by glenn

Comments

I think they even have a clip of Bush criticizing his own Republican Congress in February for underfunding homeland security. That ought to make a nice campaign ad for the DCCC.

Posted by: Laura at October 19, 2003 02:10 PM