Pacific Views

Republicans Soft On Defense

According to Roll Call, as reported in the Seattle P-I, the Senate voted last Thursday against increasing the funding for port security. HR 4567 lost 45-49. $450 million doesn't seem like a lot of money to spend compared with the damage that one attack on a major U.S. port could do, and according to Senator Murray, the program received $1 billion in grant requests last year. Murray's office cited another figure as well:

The Commandant of the Coast Guard has testified that it will take more than $7 billion, including $1.5 billion this year, to implement the port security plans which were mandated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act.

The same day, Roll Call reports that another amendment to that same bill would have shifted $70 million from consultants to first responders. The money would have upgraded emergency services communication gear so that the different services could all talk to each other during a crisis.

Both of Washington's Senators voted to increase funding for port security and first responders, but they were overruled by the Republican majority in party line votes.

Senator Murray is a strong voice in the Senate for keeping us safe here at home. She supports using our money effectively in the war on terror, and protecting our state's vital economic interests. Her opponent likes to talk tough, but like most Republicans, won't put his money where his mouth is. So, make sure and send Patty Murray back to the Senate this year, she's doing a fine job.

Posted by natasha at September 14, 2004 05:07 AM | WA Politics | Technorati links |