Posted on 02/14/2003 4:33:45 PM PST by GeneD
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. congressional Democratic leaders accused President Bush on Friday of shortchanging domestic defense as he marches toward war with Iraq and warns of increased risk of terrorist attacks at home.
Flanked by a dozen firefighters at a Capitol Hill news conference, the lawmakers asked Bush to submit to Congress within seven days a supplemental spending request for homeland security that they said should total billions of dollars.
"It is shameful that the heroes who rushed to defend the Pentagon and the World Trade Center on September 11th have to come to Washington over and over again, hat in hand, and beg this administration for the resources they need," said Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.
House of Representatives Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California joined Daschle at the news conference and in sending a letter to Bush on Friday asking for more funds.
"It is indefensible that you have not made funding for homeland security your top priority," they wrote. "Instead you have advised Americans to buy duct tape, plastic sheeting and bottled water."
Daschle and Pelosi complained that Bush has failed to provide adequate funding even as he pushes for $1.5 trillion in new tax cuts that would go mainly to the rich.
Democrats contend that the fiscal 2003 budget approved by Congress on Thursday provides far short of what is needed for domestic defense.
"RESHUFFLING OF THE CHAIRS"
Bush has requested $41.3 billion for domestic security for fiscal 2004. Republicans argue that would be a 10 percent increase. But critics say it would basically maintain current funding levels and result in cuts in some areas.
"The administration's latest budget is lacking in detail and we fear much of the funding is nothing more than a reshuffling of the chairs on the deck," Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, told the Capitol Hill news conference.
"Seventeen months after 343 of my members were killed in their valiant and successful attempt to rescue tens of thousands of civilians in that hell that was once the World Trade Center, our local fire departments have yet to see a dime of the money that has been promised by this administration."
Daschle and Pelosi, in their letter to Bush, did not suggest any specific figure for additional funding, but said it should be "sufficient" to cover a number of areas, including:
-- Additional training and equipment for firefighters, police, paramedics and other so-called first responders.
-- Improved security for nuclear plants, oil refineries and chemical facilities.
-- Bolstered border security.
-- Enhanced information sharing among government agencies to permit a better tracking of terrorist groups.
At the White House, spokeswoman Claire Buchan said Bush has already proposed "large increases" for homeland security in his fiscal 2004 budget. "We look forward to working with Congress to pass the '04 budget in a more timely fashion so that those who need funds don't have to wait 4 1/2 months into the new fiscal year for the budget to be passed," she said.
A number of congressional Democrats have blasted Bush in recent days about homeland security, including many of those seeking their party's 2004 presidential nomination.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, one of the White House hopefuls, ripped into Bush on Friday, charging that he favors the "wallets of the few over the safety of us all."
In a speech at The George Washington University, Lieberman said "at a minimum" government should invest $16 billion more than Bush proposed for homeland security, including $7.5 billion more than proposed for local first responders.
(Additional reporting by John Whitesides)
How quickly these frigging Union idiots forget.....how sad.
The Democrats' concern is they need to hand out more dollars to the Union Members, as they lost to Bush on the Airport Security/Civil Service issue.
Now, they rip Bush for deficit spending, but want MORE MONEY FOR UNION VOTES/SUPPORT.
Haven' t heard that one before....I thought it was a gabizzlion-million dollar tax cut for the rich...MWAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!
These "people are really desperate, aren't they?....BWAHAHAHA!!
FMCDH
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