House GOP blocks funding for N.Y., D.C

House Republicans blocked a vote Tuesday on restoring millions of dollars in counterterror funds to big-city targets, refusing to bust budget targets over slashed grants to emergency first responders. New York City-area Democrats pleaded to add $750 million to spending plans to fund the Homeland Security Department in the 2007 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. But Republicans rejected the measure even as they vowed anew to investigate how Homeland Security could justify cutting funding to New York and Washington -- the two targets of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks -- by 40 percent.


The House approved the overall $32 billion spending blueprint, 389-9, shortly afterward. "Short memories," said Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y. "Such a cut is unconscionable. ... Reducing funding to New York and Washington, D.C., the two targets of the Sept. 11 attacks, is a slap in the face to every first responder who rushed to the emergency scene that morning and every individual living in those regions."

But Republicans worried about increasing the federal deficit noted that the Democratic plan would have only applied to spending in the 2007 fiscal year beginning in October and would not help this year. Still, they joined Democrats in promising to investigate how Homeland Security divided $710 million among 46 high-threat urban areas nationwide. The department's grant program took a $829 million cut from 2005, although some smaller cities, like Omaha, Neb., saw their funding increase.

"It's tough to understand, considering New York City remains the highest target for terrorism," said Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y. Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky., who chairs the House Appropriations panel that oversees homeland security spending, told lawmakers he supported efforts to "further look into the matter."

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-congress-security-funds,0,6447252.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

Let's hope the next terror attack comes in an area where we're prepared for it -- like Omaha, Nebraska or Casper, Wyoming.

building to Suitland or Capitol Heights, MD or anywhere "cheaper" in rent. Or better yet,

let the Rebublican House & Senate move to FL, WY, ID.

Let them work there and we can use the $ elsewhere

This is no joke. This is not something that should be subject to partisan bickering. The only possible, close to rational explanation for the GOP's behavior is that they really, truly hate America.

I hope that the voters will remember this, come November.

--a gift from France, right??

--it says the unpardonable (to the present-day republicans)

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

OF COURSE the Statue of Liberty must be obliterated.


(And if it wasn't obvious... :sarcasm: )

Made in France

for the big spending republicans.

Estate Tax. Makes total sense to a Republican. :eyes: :puke: :crazy: :wtf: :argh: :hurts: :grr: :banghead:

Denying Our Funding On Purpose?

They are desperate for another distraction...

just checking

:toast:

peace and low stress

And then sell their assets to pay for their security.

I'll never forget their "9/11" Republican Convention in NY in 2004 and all those tears! "Never forget! 9/11, 9/11, 9/11", ad nauseum. Not to mention their "salute" to the military with purple heart band aids.

Well gee look at who has forgotten 9/11

If people can't see by now, just how scummy & exploitative bush & the republican party truly are, maybe this will wake them up.

As for Zell Miller...maybe you could stop challenging people to a duel for a moment & answer, what will DC & NY use to protect themselves now, you senile old fart? Spitballs? You horses ass.

As for Rudy & Bloomberg..kissing bush's butt did a lot for the city you claim to love so much, didn't it? You both look like fools. Go hold hands with that other suck up John McCain.


Interesting fact, George Washington took the oath office in NY and gave his inaugural address in 1789, the only American president to do so. For anyone interested in American history, this National Monument is now a museum devoted to the Constitution. But wait thats right...we have no monuments and who cares about honoring the constitution these days..its "just another piece of paper" right?

The postcards available on Hillary Clinton's site, with Pete King joining her, are real nice, but I wish the two of them would be calling for Chertoff to be fired. Wasn't his Katrina Debacle enough to show just how imcompetent he and the nitwit that appointed are? What more will it take?

Every blue state should impose eminent domain on republican properties. It's a form of passive secession.

House Republicans...BLOW ME...As one who spent lots of time at Ground Zero. See ya in November pubbies....

the folks in Packwood don't need it. Packwood has a population of about 100 people. Packwood Iowa is a perfect example of pork and more pork. Packwood has never had a fire in it's 100 year history yet it qualifies for hundreds of thousands of dollars in Deutchland Insecurity aid for such things as health advisories for Packwood's all volunteer fire dept's volunteers. Its actually a perfect example of the fraud that has been committed on this country in he name of security. Yep Packwood Iowa is a perfect example.

that they're using to shut down the epidemic of "Meth" labs in their areas. They're getting equipment, training.....for what appears to be the "war on drugs", NOT "homeland security". But those are RED STATES, so what the hell does it matter? As I've stated before, DHS has become just another pork distribution agency for Bush's supporters, a way to buy their votes again. Coupled with the "marriage protection" act they're assuring themselves mid-western allegiance to their twisted agenda.

The BLUE STATES can go to hell. They only serve as a backdrop for myriad Bush photo-ops whenever there's a catastrophe anyway. If it wasn't for their propaganda value Bush would probably cut off ALL funding of ALL types to the BLUE STATES. Hey, THEY don't vote for him, why should they share in our country's "bounty"? :grr:

RepubliCONS are evil, pure evil. They have nothing but their own interests in mind, not the country's. The sooner they're removed from power the better because this country will never flourish until they're swept into the dustbin of history.

I really don't get it. Isn't that their entire platform these days? 9/11 terror 9/11 terror

Holy Shit! On edit, I do get it. New York is a blue state. They'll never get it and they know it. So where is the money going? Places where they think they can keep it red. That's got to be it, no?

Republicans ARE WEAK on defense.

disguise the imminent bankruptcy that's coming due to Bush and the Republican's stoopid foreign policy decisions?

while New York and Washington get less. The priority seems to be to keep those credit card bills coming in no matter who gets blown up next.