U.S. tells D.C. to pay inaugural expenses ( Bush: divert HS funds!)

[Sleepless In NY]

U.S. tells D.C. to pay inaugural expenses
City will divert funds from homeland security projects
By Spencer S. Hsu

Updated: 12:46 a.m. ET Jan. 11, 2005
D.C. officials said yesterday that the Bush administration is refusing to reimburse the District for most of the costs associated with next week's inauguration, breaking with precedent and forcing the city to divert $11.9 million from homeland security projects.

Federal officials have told the District that it should cover the expenses by using some of the $240 million in federal homeland security grants it has received in the past three years -- money awarded to the city because it is among the places at highest risk of a terrorist attack
Williams estimated that the city's costs for the inauguration will total $17.3 million, most of it related to security. City officials said they can use an unspent $5.4 million from an annual federal fund that reimburses the District for costs incurred because of its status as the capital. But that leaves $11.9 million not covered, they said.

"We want to make this the best possible event, but not at the expense of D.C. taxpayers and other homeland security priorities," said Gregory M. McCarthy, the mayor's deputy chief of staff. "This is the first time there hasn't been a direct appropriation for the inauguration."

A spokesman for Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.), chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, which oversees the District, agreed with the mayor's stance. He called the Bush administration's position "simply not acceptable."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6810085/

[Guaranteed]

1. And the hits just keep on coming.

This is just so ridiculous. There just aren't any words.

[AgadorSparticus]

8. no, there just aren't any words to fully describe this.

this is unfuckingbelievable.

:nuke::nuke: :nuke::nuke::nuke:

[Guaranteed]

16. Is someone keeping a list? I'm serious.

Are they running out of paper yet?

I can't even remember all this crap.

[Matariki]

20. sometimes it seems that the shrub is deliberately

trying to bankrupt our country. now why would he want to do that?

[Tweed]

2. This is pure bullshit

First they don't get a rep in congress, then they are expected to foot the bill for Bush's party? What a bunch of crap! This President has no class whatsoever. It seems like even Republicans are getting sick of him.

[Ediacara]

3. There is so much anger in me about this

I can't even say anything, other than to report that I'm mad!

[KTM]

4. GET BENT !!!

You want to throw the most expensive American Coronation ever, and you want US to pay for it ?!?

[StaggerLee]

5. All in the wake of

A struggling economy

Our troops not having the necessary equipment to do their jobs

A devastating natural disaster for our neighbors in Southeast Asia

Yeah- this is going to go over well.

:eyes:

[Erika]

6. How blanking sick

Bush diverts HS monies for his inauguration. Why didn't he just scale back his festivities and act like a war time president which he so brags on? Ssacrifice is something that Bush doesn't do, unless it's to order someone else to sacrifice.

I hope DC cops/etc just don't show up.

[Webster Green]

7. Using Homeland Security funds for his coronation?

This stuff is getting unbelievable.

Can we impeach this asshole yet?

[Erika]

12. What's sick is he'll

convince the likes of the freepers that it's a good way to spending HS funds, to keep their PRESIDENT safe. Horrible things could happen if Bush was not president...like we could live in a peaceful world and start spending our taxdollars on our own needy.

[Skittles]

9. DC should decline to offer security

f*** em, if they want their obscene party make 'em pay for it

[tridim]

10. BushCo is rubbing our noses in his "win"

They can do anything they want. Who's going to stop them, the Democrats??

[aquart]

19. Certainly not ethical Republicans.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

11. Meanwhile some sheriff in SD can't drive his new HS truck

except if the terraists attack.

What a bunch of shit.

[Erika]

13. But the Texans

love spending their HS money for lawn mower dragging races. Four more years of this idiot?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

14. Excuse me, "simply not acceptable" does not cover this.

His ego knows no bounds.

We are at war and sitting on a record deficit. Yet all that matters is that his party must go on?

[Sleepless In NY]

15. Story is now on Yahoo. Please rate it a 5! TY

U.S. Tells D.C. to Pay Inaugural Expenses

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1802&ncid=716&e=16&u=/washpost/20050111/ts_washpost/a63896_2005jan10

[rodeodance]

17. ts current average rating is 1.56 with 159 vote(s).--seems that many

do not this story

[TXDemGal]

18. "Let them eat anthrax!"

says King Smirk to the plebes. :puke:

[NVMojo]

21. as mentioned on another post about this, the Bush campaign team

took advantage of US cities this way by making them foot the bill for their campaign visits in security, waiving landing fees, etc. I read somewhere that one city ended up with a cracked runway that was not constructed to handle the weight of the military planes that would go on the campaign trail with Bush or Cheney.

These people are disgusting and there is something very incestuous with his use of HS funds for his own bullshit event.

[lamp_shade]

22. Kick....

[Moderator]

23. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1140038