From The New York Daily News, 7/15/05:
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/328419p-280532c.html

Subway, bus safety? Not our problem!

By Michael McAuliff and James Gordon Meek

WASHINGTON -

The Senate rejected a $1.2 billion bill to make subways and buses
safer yesterday, just hours after Homeland Security director Michael
Chertoff said cities and states should not expect the feds to foot the
bill.

The measure needed 60 votes to prevail because it would have exceeded
spending caps, but only received 53 votes.

The bill would have helped cities like New York fund the installation
of surveillance cameras in subways, training of bomb-sniffing dogs for
rail stations, and other measures.

"We've been spending pennies as far as transit security," said Sen.
Richard Shelby, the Alabama Republican who led the fight for more mass
transit security.

Hours earlier, Chertoff told The Associated Press that the Bush
administration places high priority on protecting jetliners - even
after the London tube attacks.

"The truth of the matter is, a fully loaded airplane with jet fuel
...has the capacity to kill 3,000 people. A bomb in a subway car may
kill 30 people," he said.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he was "aghast" at Chertoff's
statement and denounced him on the Senate floor.

"If Mr. Chertoff holds these views I'm not sure he should continue as
the secretary of homeland security," he said.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) also voiced "outrage" at Chertoff for
leaving New Yorkers "to fend for themselves when it comes to paying
for improved subway, train and bus security."

"This administration has presented us with a false choice - they would
like us to believe that resources are so scarce that we can't afford
to fully protect all of our transportation systems," she said.

_________________________________________________________

What's the guy doin' with all those billions?

Harry

From The New York Daily News, 7/15/05:
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/328419p-280532c.html

Subway, bus safety? Not our problem!

By Michael McAuliff and James Gordon Meek

WASHINGTON -

The Senate rejected a $1.2 billion bill to make subways and buses
safer yesterday, just hours after Homeland Security director Michael
Chertoff said cities and states should not expect the feds to foot the
bill.

The measure needed 60 votes to prevail because it would have exceeded
spending caps, but only received 53 votes.

The bill would have helped cities like New York fund the installation
of surveillance cameras in subways, training of bomb-sniffing dogs for
rail stations, and other measures.

"We've been spending pennies as far as transit security," said Sen.
Richard Shelby, the Alabama Republican who led the fight for more mass
transit security.

Hours earlier, Chertoff told The Associated Press that the Bush
administration places high priority on protecting jetliners - even
after the London tube attacks.

"The truth of the matter is, a fully loaded airplane with jet fuel
...has the capacity to kill 3,000 people. A bomb in a subway car may
kill 30 people," he said.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he was "aghast" at Chertoff's
statement and denounced him on the Senate floor.

"If Mr. Chertoff holds these views I'm not sure he should continue as
the secretary of homeland security," he said.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) also voiced "outrage" at Chertoff for
leaving New Yorkers "to fend for themselves when it comes to paying
for improved subway, train and bus security."

"This administration has presented us with a false choice - they would
like us to believe that resources are so scarce that we can't afford
to fully protect all of our transportation systems," she said.

_________________________________________________________

What's the guy doin' with all those billions?

Harry