Gephardt calls for increased homeland security funding
Battling Howard Dean in Iowa
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Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri
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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt, faulting President Bush for "gambling with our safety," on Monday called for spending $100 billion over five years on homeland security.
Battling front-runner Howard Dean for a critical win in the January 19 caucus state, the Missouri congressman proposed the creation of a Homeland Security Trust Fund to assist state and local communities. The plan would be financed by eliminating special interest tax breaks.
"A guiding principle of homeland security is that it should look both inward and outward. A foreign policy that drives away natural allies in the war against terrorism does our country no good. And shortchanging domestic security puts our citizens here at home at undue risk," Gephardt said. "Homeland security involves balance and common sense. Unfortunately, those are two qualities we rarely see in this White House."
Speaking at police headquarters in this eastern Iowa city, Gephardt said he would spend $20 billion per year over the next five years. A special commission, modeled after the independent military base closing commission, would sort through the federal tax code and identify unneeded subsidies.
"When you measure progress on the threats that could inflict the greatest number of casualties, it's clear this president is gambling with our safety," Gephardt said.
He pointed to a study by the U.S. Conference of Mayors estimating that cities have spent more than $2.6 billion on homeland security costs such as police equipment, fire department upgrades and emergency health preparedness.
Those cities spend $70 million every week the nation is on a heightened alert status, "an unbearable burden for state and local governments," he said.
"As a result of George Bush's abdication of duty, governors, state legislators and mayors of both parties are being forced to cut not only education and health care, but also homeland security," Gephardt said.
The former House minority leader, who worked closely with the administration in drawing up the congressional resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq, said Bush has turned the congressional mandate on its ear and left the nation less secure.
Copyright 2003 The
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
