"The Bush administration intends to slash counterterrorism funding for police, firefighters...."

[ProSense]

Emergency responders face deep aid cuts

By EILEEN SULLIVAN and DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration intends to slash counterterrorism funding for police, firefighters and rescue departments across the country by more than half next year, according to budget documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The Homeland Security Department has given $23 billion to states and local communities to fight terrorism since the Sept. 11 attacks, but one document says the administration is not convinced that the money has been well spent and thinks the nation's highest-risk cities have largely satisfied their security needs.

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The White House's plan to eliminate the port, transit and other grants, which are popular with state and local officials, would not go into effect until Sept. 30, 2008. Congress is unlikely to support the cuts and will ultimately decide the fate of the programs and the funding levels when it hashes out the department's 2009 budget next year. The White House routinely seeks to cut the budget requests of federal departments, but the cuts proposed for 2009 Homeland Security grants are far deeper than the norm. Congress has yet to approve the department's 2008 plan.

"This budget proposal is dead on arrival," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. "This administration runs around the country scaring people and then when it comes to putting their money where their mouth is, they say 'sorry, the bank is closed.'"

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Evidently Bush has concluded that he has won his phony war on terror.

[blm]

1. I think they are ready to push privatization of policing and firefighting ala Blackwater.

Dupe.

[TomInTib]

5. I think it is because they cannot make anything work.

See my reply #4.

[blm]

2. I think they are ready to push privatization of policing and firefighting ala Blackwater.

They stretched and screwed with our military for years to push privatization and they are close to succeeding at that.

[napi21]

3. Yea He's threatening EVRYTHING! Murth said today Shrub was

threatening to pullo the funds from the programs that help the families of the deployed soldiers, like childcare and education programs. I don't know just how far he can actually do all that. There ARE some things that just can't be redesignated. I liked the way Murth put it. He said we've allocated $XXX billions to this war THIS YEAR ALONE! He's NOT going to get any more $$ until he orders plans for beginning a withwrawl!

So far, it sounds like all the Dems are sticking with holding out the funds this time. I guess we'll see. I did read a promising note yesterday in our local GA. paper. Chambliss said "If there isn't a substantial move toward political resolution in Iraq after Jan. 1, we're going to have to take a look at changing tactics!" In case you don't realize it, Chambliss is a really close s** kisser of Shrubs, and To read a statement in a Ga. paper like that from HIM is quite a move!

[TomInTib]

4. If those programs are as comprehensive as was ours, cut 'em.

Since ours is the highest median per capita income ZIP Code in the US, we received a ton of money from DHS.

I mean, that's the Bush way, eh?

Spent millions of dollars on a Command and Control bunker inside of our Town Hall. You would not believe that place. And we are a Community of 8,400 people.

The main focus was earthquake preparedness (SF Bay).

Area Captains were selected (my nosey next-door neighbor is ours).

Meetings were held and plans were affirmed.

Only two keys to the Room were handed out to Top-Secret People (I know who they were).

Comes the Big Surprise Run-Thru.

2:30 in the morning. Reverse 911 (that is when the Emergency Folks call every phone in Town).

All of the Worried People show up at Town Hall.

Two DHS people were there and they didn't have keys, either.

Both of the Secret Holders of the Key forgot their key at home.