Transit systems may not get upgrades (security) (Boston Globe)

[Eugene]

Transit systems may not get upgrades
Security gave way to politics, Democrats say

By Alan Wirzbicki, Globe Correspondent | October 10, 2006

WASHINGTON -- House and Senate Republican leaders stripped $4.5 billion
in funds for mass transit security from homeland security legislation,
then forced a quick vote on the streamlined bill last month -- leading
angry Democrats to accuse Congress of reneging on a promise to protect
the nation's commuters from terrorist attacks.

Some lawmakers complained that they had only a few hours to read the
legislation before voting, and said they believe mass transit security
should be a top priority, particularly since terrorist bombs killed hundreds
of commuters in Madrid, London, and Mumbai, India, during the last
2 1/2 years. Still, President Bush was expected to sign the bill into law.

As a result, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and other
mass transit systems across the country will not get security upgrades
such as new surveillance cameras, more canine patrols, and subway tunnel
protection systems, as well as millions in overtime pay for transit police.
The appropriation also would have paid for emergency response drills,
tunnel evacuation system improvements, transit security research grants,
and public awareness campaigns.

-snip-

During debate on the bill, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff
urged Republican leaders to remove the rail funding, saying he didn't want
the bill to become a costly, inefficient "goulash" of different programs.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/10/10/transit_systems_may_not_get_upgrades

Chertoff insists that protecting mass transit from terrorism should not be a federal responsibility.

[Justice]

1. oh, that is why Mitt started the random searches again on the T,

it is cover for the fact that we have no federal funds for upgrades.