For a reason:
Because they are the ones who are supposed to respond first.
It has been stated many times since this president started his cuts to states to finance Iraq and his tax cuts:
Statement by Senator Mark Pryor
On Budget Cuts to First Responder Funding
Senator Pryor joined with Democratic colleagues today to criticize the Administration's budget for first responders. Pryor, the former top law enforcement officer for the state of Arkansas, was particularly disappointed that the President shortchanged law enforcement programs, such as the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) in the FY2005 budget. The following are his prepared remarks.
Last year, right about this time I stood in the Senate chamber questioning why an Administration that talks so much about the importance of homeland security; and first responders would submit a budget that so drastically shortchanges their needs. I find myself one year later still asking the same questions.
First responders put their lives on the line and all they ask in return is for a little help so they can keep doing the best job possible. But what do they get instead:
Homeland security grants sought for state and local agencies are down $975 million
Requested funding for state and local training, exercises and technical assistance is down $142 million.
First Responder grants cut have been by $207 million; and
Aid to state and local law enforcement cut by 32 percent
Specifically, as it pertains to community policing the President's budget short changes smaller communities and grossly under funds programs that have put more police officers on the street, reduced crime in rural areas, curbed drug abuse and put at-risk youth back on the right track.
But don't take my word for it. Take the word of Attorney General John Ashcroft who said not two years ago:
"Since law enforcement agencies began partnering with citizens through community policing we've seen significant drops in crime rates."
When I was the Attorney General of my state, I worked closely with law enforcement to make Arkansas a safer place to live and raise a family. These police officers operate under tight budgets with smaller staffs than most of their urban counterparts. Nevertheless they put their lives on the line everyday and we need to make sure they have adequate resources to do their jobs properly and protect their citizens. Unfortunately this budget fails to do that.
I could go on all day about why this budget is inadequate, but I think it is a better idea to hear it from the people who live it.
People such as:
Chief James Allen of the Bentonville Police Department who says the COPS program has been the biggest single factor in helping his region fight methamphetamine use.
Or Pine Bluff Chief of Police, Daniel Moses who characterized his Homeland Security Overtime grant as a godsend.
Police Chief Richard Taft told me that when he took over the Malvern Police Force in 1993 he didn't have enough officers to protect his officers yet alone the citizens of Malvern and that without the COPS program he wouldn't have a police force.
These law enforcement officers are making a huge difference in our communities and that is on top of the integral part they play in our homeland defense as first responders
September 11th made us acutely aware of the need of genuine partnerships that involve all segments of our communities and all levels of government - we all have a role in keeping our community safe.
Unfortunately we saw how September 11th strained the resources, and the budgets, of many towns and cities. The Administration's budget does not help address that problem. Our civilian authorities must be able to respond to whatever may confront them in the future, but how can they properly respond, when they are given a budget that cuts deep into their existence?
We need to build on what we know works. These law enforcement programs work and deserve better funding than what they receive from the Administration.
http://www.senate.gov/~pryor/press/2004/first_responders.htm
IT'S OFFICIAL:
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET PROPOSAL CUTS $2.3 BILLION FROM FIRST RESPONDERS
IT'S OFFICIAL:
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET PROPOSAL CUTS $2.3 BILLION FROM FIRST RESPONDERS
Congressional Research Service confirms exact amount of dramatic cut for America's firefighters, police and emergency medical service
WASHINGTON, DC - $2.3 billion. That is the overall cut for first responders in the President's budget proposal, as officially pinpointed in a Congressional Research Service (CRS) memo (http://www.house.gov/maloney/issues/Homeland/FirstResponderFundingFY05Budget.pdf). The information was requested by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14), Chair of the House Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security. News of the huge cut comes despite the Administration touting a nearly 10% increase for overall homeland spending.
"This Administration has tried to distract us with happy talk of an increase in the homeland budget," said Maloney. "Now we know the truth. That elephant-sized $2.3 billion hole is just too big to cover up. A cut is a cut.
"It's very clear that this Administration spares no expense to build firehouses in Iraq, but they won't even think twice about helping reopen the firehouses in New York City. Once again, they've shown that their big talk about security lacks credibility."
President Bush's FY2005 budget proposal calls for a total of $4.97 billion for first responder programs, as defined by CRS, which are administered by both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. That falls far short of the $7.27 billion appropriated for this fiscal year, and it is even $430 million less that the President had requested for the FY2004 budget.
The cuts include a $1 billion cut in the State Homeland Security Grant Program - from $1.7 billion to $700 million - which assists first responders across the country, as well as zeroing out Local Law Enforcement Block Grants - from $225 million to $0 - which assists police officers.
http://www.house.gov/maloney/press/108th/20040212FirstRespondersCut.html
By Brock N. Meeks
Chief Washington correspondent
MSNBC
Updated: 4:45 p.m. ET Feb. 9, 2004
WASHINGTON - President Bush's proposed homeland security budget shortchanges the nation's first line of defense against terrorism and either cuts back or eliminates several other vital security programs, members of a Senate panel said Monday.
The DHS budget includes "a stunning 30 percent cut, government-wide, for first responders that is the latest evidence of shortchanging the homeland side of the war against terrorism," warned former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4224556/
First responsders had en enourmous amount of responsibility placed on them after September 11th 2001 by the Bush Administration. Many new orders adn requirements came down from the Bush Adminnistration REQUIRING the staet and local governments to take on many new responsibilities regarding terrorism.
But like ALL bad managers, the Bush Administration DELEGATED responsibility alone.
It did not provide either the authority, the resources of the funding to do the additional jobs requiered.