U.S. Tells D.C. to Pay Inaugural Expenses

[Fleshdancer]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1802&u=/washpost/20050111/ts_washpost/a63896_2005jan10&printer=1

D.C. officials said yesterday that the Bush administration is refusing to reimburse the District for most of the costs associated with next week's inauguration, breaking with precedent and forcing the city to divert $11.9 million from homeland security projects.

Federal officials have told the District that it should cover the expenses by using some of the $240 million in federal homeland security grants it has received in the past three years -- money awarded to the city because it is among the places at highest risk of a terrorist attack.

But that grant money is earmarked for other security needs, Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) said in a Dec. 27 letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Joshua B. Bolten and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. Williams's office released the letter yesterday.

Williams estimated that the city's costs for the inauguration will total $17.3 million, most of it related to security. City officials said they can use an unspent $5.4 million from an annual federal fund that reimburses the District for costs incurred because of its status as the capital. But that leaves $11.9 million not covered, they said.

[Bluzmann57]

1. Without really knowing, doesn't DC have a few more problems

to worry about than Inaugural expenses? Most big cities have some infrastructure issues, and most likely, DC is no different. Plus, as already noted, it certainly is at a higher risk for terrorist attacks than, say, here where I live. So why don't the rich assholes who are attending pony up a few more dollars? It just doesn't seem fair for taxpayers to foot the bill.

[Wisc Badger]

2. This is really

Bush-League, and Bush-Sh*t, what a crock of Sh*t.

No wonder I am a recovering Republican, putrid, simply putrid.:puke:
:wtf:

[Moderator]

3. duplicate topic, please discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1140038