Carrot and stick: Homeland Security funds to cash-strapped states???

[Jim Warren]

This is from a thread on LBN about Mitt Ronmey speaking up for Tom Ridge and you can weigh in there on this POS mittster that baystaters saw fit to elect. <barf>

However, reading the whole article,

http://www.thetranscript.com/Stories/0,1413,103~9054~1637278,00.html

it concludes with:

"As the Department of Homeland Security transitions to illicit the help of citizens, Ridge said money for state and local public safety departments is available for the taking.

"The money is available to the cities and states, they just need to apply for them," Ridge said.

"You're never going to hear a governor like me not ask for more money from the federal government," Romney said. "But you can only take and effectively use funds for purposes that have been identified." He said municipalities need to temper their rush to grab federal dollars until an assessment of national needs is concluded."
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The reality is, states and municipalities undergoing bush tax-cut imposed budget crises are chomping at the bit for federal funds.

The question is what hoops will need jumping through and what strings will be attached. This smacks of an insidious and underhanded way of first cutting back and then rewarding behavior "for purposes that have been identified" and sanctioned by the Herr Ridge and Der administration.

[Eloriel]

1. Is that really what it says? Freudian slip?

As the Department of Homeland Security transitions to illicit the help of citizens

Illicit instead of elicit? Wow.

[Jim Warren]

2. Whoa, good catch!

Missed that first run through, but yes straight cut/paste from what I guess is a small Berkshire "Washington Bureau".