Lacking details on homeland budget, lawmakers cut short hearing

A House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing was shortened Thursday over complaints that the Bush administration did not provide lawmakers with the information they need to evaluate the budget request for the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection.

"Our subcommittee cannot do its job unless we have the information necessary to evaluate the president's request," said Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky. "This includes budget justifications."

He noted that the committee had requested that material and has been awaiting a response from Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mitchell Daniels.

"I regret that we have no recourse but to recess this hearing until we have those materials," Rogers said.

Robert Bonner, commissioner of the bureau, said he that he is "profoundly disappointed and apologetic" for the lack of response and that he will take the panel's message back to the administration.