Bush May Withhold Anti-terror Money
Monday August 12, 2002 11:50 PM
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - President Bush plans to announce at an economic forum Tuesday that he will not release $5.1 billion officially earmarked for combatting terrorism - some of which Congress designated for purposes unrelated to homeland security.
Bush signed a $28.9 billion anti-terror emergency ``supplemental'' budget measure on Aug. 2, but did not commit to spending the $5.1 billion chunk. He had one month to decide whether to spend all or none of the $5.1 billion.
For months, Bush has warned Congress against overspending, and he is using the economic forum to make his point that fiscal discipline can help the economy. Three administration officials said Bush would announce the decision Tuesday. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the matter was under review, and declined further comment.
Other administration officials said Bush was blocking the money as a signal to Congress to rein in spending. Also, they said, the government financed an array of anti-terror projects with a $40 billion package in October, and $14 billion remains unspent.
About half of the $5.1 billion was allocated for homeland security, including $235 million for nuclear security improvements; $125 million for port security grants and $373 million for Coast Guard port security upgrades; $480 million for airport security; $165 million for food and water security; and $151 million for local and state law enforcement resources.
But Congress also attached an array of non-terrorism-related spending to the measure, including $400 million for election reform; $200 million for combatting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria overseas; $50 million for flood prevention and response; and more than $1 billion for the Defense Department for National Guard and Reserve units, for chemical demilitarization and for classified projects.
Congress included $437 million in foreign assistance, including embassy security, aid to Israel and disaster assistance to Palestinians.
Bush's decision was sure to spark an outcry from Democrats and from supporters of the programs funded by the $5.1 billion.
A day before Bush announced his decision, Democrats warned that doing so would jeopardize many vital projects. Administration officials would not say whether any of the programs funded by the $5.1 billion would ultimately get any money.
Last week, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., implored Bush to release the $5.1 billion, offering to travel to Bush's ranch here with a contingent of construction workers and firefighters from the New York's Ground Zero, who she said would be deprived of funds for health monitoring. |
