posted on August 5, 2003 08:58:50 AM new
here is what support is like from the republicans to make sure that people are safe in planes, after all their talk on terrorist this and terrorist that, yea right,
Air Marshalls cutback from protecting planes from terrorists,and here's an interesting tidbit of news from Capitol Hill which shows just how tough Republicans really are on fighting terrorism. Apparently, while the air marshal flap really took off last week, the groundwork was laid a week earlier by the House Appropriations Committee. According to the Associated Press, "Rep. David Obey, ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, tried unsuccessfully last week to add $50 million to a spending bill to keep the air marshals at full strength this year. His proposal was defeated 32-21 by the committee, voting along party lines." So the Democrats wanted to make sure that the Transportation Security Administration (who, to reiterate, are apparently in a $900 million budget hole - thanks George) is fully funded so that air marshals are available on all flights to protect Americans from terrorism. But the Republicans voted for cutbacks in the air marshal service, leaving commercial airliners dangerously vulnerable to hijackings. And they have the nerve to call Democrats soft on terrorism? Despicable
"A plan to cutback on the number of federal air marshalls is pulled before it ever got off the ground. The Transportation Security Administration had plans to pull some marshalls because of a lack of money. But now that decision has been reversed."
"It comes just one day after new terror threats have surfaced. Some passengers at McCarran Airport say they're glad the government didn't make any changes."
