My Congressman, Democrat Martin Sabo, spoke to the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee today.
They met to produce the first draft of the fiscal year 2006 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Sabo (D-MN) offered the following comments before the subcommittee:
Because of vacancies at the top in several DHS agencies, we didn't hear from some critical areas, including the State and Local Programs office that's responsible for distributing billions of dollars in grants. This bill cuts funding substantially in some of those areas.
http://sabo.house.gov/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC
The bill cuts funding. Wow. True to Republican form. They scream on and on about terrorism and fighting terrorism everywhere. Blah, blah, blah. They even set up special departments like Homeland Security.
But when push comes to shove, they don't fund what they say they are going to do.
It is just like Bush getting No Child Left Behind pushed through Congress. Make the rules. Don't fund the education.
The Republicans make me sick. Here is more of what Sabo had to say:
However, I have some strong reservations about other areas, including funding levels for fire grants and the state homeland security formula grants.
I think it is a mistake to start to distribute a portion of the state formula grant based on risk and vulnerability versus population.
I want to be clear about my reasoning: We should target our resources on our biggest vulnerabilities.
Sabo wants to base the grants on population. Of course, he does. And it is not because Minnesota is hugely populated. Sabo is looking for some god damn fairness!! If you base the funding only on risk and vulernerability, the funding is going to the most politcal savy. The people who whine the most about needing security. It will go to the people in power.
Sabo is doing exactly what he is suppose to do. He is questioning how we are being protected and where the money is going. Good job, Sabo. I am proud to have you as my congressman.
