BREAKING NEWS: Last UPDATE 1-31-2008
on Bush Cuts of the Byrne/JAG Grants: |
According to this article "New Mexico police departments brace for federal grant cuts" "President Bush approved a spending bill in December that slashes the JAG federal grant by two-thirds, from $520 million last year to $170 million this year." It appears that has occurred and the cuts are in Public Law 110-161 which resulted from HR-2764 (follow "All Congressional Actions" to see what happened and when).
Now, what is important about HR-2764 is, that it was approved by Congressional votes, which means certain Congressional members actually voted to cut the JAG/Byrne funding, Bush only approved their decision. House votes: CLICK Senate votes: CLICK. (who knows what arm bending went on behind closed doors, if anything. Remember how the Adam Walsh Act was passed, by a select few lawmakers under suspension of the rules, claiming it was not a controversial issue!)
Arizona News 1-30-08:
Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk is in Washington, D.C., this week to join prosecutors nationwide in urging Congress to restore money for "vital" local law enforcement programs.
In an e-mail, Polk said the cuts were a drastic, unexpected, behind-the-scenes measure. Both the Senate and the House approved separate versions that provided $600 million for fiscal year 2008, but a conference committee made the cuts.
The harm to Arizona will be dramatic, according to Polk. She said that Arizona could expect to receive $1.7 million for fiscal year 2008, down from $5.5 million in fiscal year 2007, unless the state convinces Congress to restore the money.
OK, remember, if you review the votes on HR-2764, a YEA means that lawmaker favored a cut in funding, a NAY means that lawmaker did not favor a cut, not voting means well I was busy elsewhere (mostly campaign trail). However, two lawmakers voted "PRESENT" which means, I don't vote for the bill and I do not vote against the bill, but I am not absent, and my "PRESENT" is counted with the majority. For those lawmakers, accountability means what? Who are they? Senator Hatch (Utah) and Representative Baird (Washington), remember those names.
Next, introduced in the House on 1-29-2008 is HR-5180 Sponsors and Co-Sponsors Reps. Loeback (IA), Boswell (IA) and Braley (IA). HR-5180 is to supplement the cuts by Bush. In this article "Senators Seeking Emergency Funding for Law Enforcement Grants," Senators Bond (MO) and Harkin (IA) are also seeking supplemental funding because of the Bush cuts, soon to be introduced.
I haven't forgotten that Bryne Grants are only one portion of HR-2764 which reduced funding in many areas. So you want to know what my point is, best expressed in a chart:
| Lawmaker |
Voted AWA into Law with Byrne Grant Funding in 2006 |
Voted to Reduce Byrne Grant Funding for 2008 |
Voted for Increase Byrne Grant Funding in 2008 |
Loebsack (IA) |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Boswell (IA) |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Braley (IA) |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Bond (MO) |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Harkin (IA) |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Summarizing, effectively these lawmakers said, I vote for safety of kids (AWA) and support funding it, then they changed their minds and reduced funding, now early in 2008, again changing their minds want to increase funding that was cut.
Political game-playing, public safety or political positioning, which is the real goal? The political game, sex offenders are the pawns, children are the ruse, and political jobs are the real goal and an illusion of public safety!
eAdvocate (1-31-08) (As more lawmakers push for INCREASED funding, I'll update the chart)
To link back to this report: http://www.oocities.org/eoped/brk-1.html
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