LIEBERMAN WARNS AGAINST SHORT-CHANGING HOMELAND
SECURITY
GAO SAYS DEPARTMENT START-UP WILL COST MONEY
Savings May Come in Long Term
WASHINGTON - In the wake of a new report on homeland
security, Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe
Lieberman, D-Conn., pressed the Bush Administration Friday for
adequate funds to protect Americans from terrorist attack here
at home.
"So far, there’s been a lot of talk from the
Bush administration about protecting homeland security, but very
little action," said Lieberman, who led the effort to
consolidate 22 government agencies and programs into a new
department. "Without the proper resources, linked to a
comprehensive strategy, the security of our ports, our
communities, and our critical infrastructure will always be
lacking. It’s time for the administration to exercise some
leadership and put its money where its mouth is."
Lieberman’s comments came as the General Accounting Office
released a new report that said the start -up of the new
Department of Homeland Security will cost money. The Bush
administration has said the consolidation will save taxpayers
money.
"In the long run, savings may well be realized, but any
reorganization will incur start-up costs, as well as require
some funding that may be temporarily redundant, but necessary to
maintain continuity of effort during the transition
period," the GAO said.
"More important than a precise cost of the transition is
the recognition that there will be short-term transition costs
and that these costs need to be made transparent in a transition
plan for congressional consideration," the report said.
The report comes amid a bitter, year-long dispute over
funding a variety of homeland security measures. In August,
President Bush vetoed $5 billion that would have been delivered
immediately to state and local first responders. Earlier this
month, the administration announced it would wait several months
before releasing an additional $1.5 billion for law enforcement
and anti-terrorism assistance. And the administration has failed
to help speed along already-appropriated funds to local
communities - including some of the funding that was provided
immediately after September 11th.
"Homeland security will be nothing but a pipe dream
unless the president expends some of his political capital in
the debate over current appropriations and to ensure the
necessary commitment of resources in his upcoming budget,"
Lieberman said. "There are critical needs that must be met
to fulfill the promise of this department."
"Management
Challenges Facing Federal Leadership"
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