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Daschle blasts Bush on homeland securityRidge says anti-terror funding available in states
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle charged Monday that the Bush administration is unfairly burdening local governments with "irresponsible fiscal policy and ... unfunded mandates" that leave the homeland vulnerable to terrorism. "I know how profoundly concerned [local officials] are to be able to respond to whatever comes in whatever circumstances," Daschle, D-South Dakota, told a meeting of county government officials. "But readiness costs money, and the federal government has not come to your aid to the degree that it must to fulfill its obligations." The question of funding for states and cities dealing with new homeland security needs has become critical. They say they are being burdened with new demands but the government is not providing enough money to help. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told the county officials that some anti-terror funding was available through their respective governors' offices, having been passed onto the states in 2001 and 2002. "You might want to access those dollars as well," Ridge said, urging them to "tap into this existing resource." In a speech Friday formally launching the new Department of Homeland Security, President Bush blamed Congress for the funding crisis, saying lawmakers were trying to attach too many strings to money slated for state and local governments. Bush requested $3.5 billion in the current budget for so-called "first responders," those emergency and medical workers who would first to the scene of an attack or disaster. Congress passed legislation that included $1.3 billion for first responders and another $2.2 billion in existing grant programs. Some Democrats want an additional $5 billion for first responders. Daschle said the bipartisan spirit that existed in the days after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has all but disappeared. "Three times since September 11, the president and congressional Republicans have refused to support Democratic efforts to provide additional resources to address America's most urgent homeland security needs," Daschle said. He proposed Bush "prove his commitment" to national security by supporting Democratic emergency legislation that provides "$5 billion in new funding for first responders directly at the county level." "The bill could be passed immediately and the money could go on its way to you just as soon as the president signed the bill into law," he said to members of the National Association of Counties. "We're facing very difficult times, but we've come through tougher," Daschle said. "We can no longer act as though we can buy protection from terrorists for no more than the cost of duct tape. "We need to stand together to give our first responders the tools they need ... to protect our communities from terrorist attack and other tragedy." In his speech Friday, Bush defended the administration approach and promised to do more. "We've provided more than $900 million in support to help state and local responders and emergency managers prepare for terrorist attacks," Bush said. "And we've supported the training of more than 100,000 first responders since September the 11, 2001."
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