Finger pointing begins over New York security grant allocations

The Homeland Security Department's announcement this week of port and transit security grant allocations to New York City triggered a barrage of finger pointing and heated exchanges between the Obama administration and New York lawmakers from both political parties.

But a review of recent history shows there's plenty of blame to go around when it comes to how much grant funding is available for cities like New York.

A trio of New York lawmakers -- Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer and Reps. Nita Lowey, a Democrat, and Republican Rep. Peter King -- accused the administration of cutting grant funding from last year's level. DHS and White House officials countered that New York is actually getting a net increase of $47.3 million when stimulus money was taken into account.

Lawmakers fired back Thursday that the stimulus money was a one-time deal.

But the enacted fiscal 2010 Homeland Security appropriations bill shows that Congress reduced funding for port and transit security grant programs below their fiscal 2009 level -- and Schumer, Lowey and King all voted for the bill.

Indeed, the fiscal 2009 spending bill allocated $400 million to each of those programs. The fiscal 2010 bill provided only $300 million for each program.

"Regrettably, the total amount of funding available nationally for port and transit security grants has been declining, with 25 percent less funding appropriated for these programs in fiscal 2010 than in fiscal 2009," Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., said Thursday.

"I will continue to fight for this vital funding which is central to our national effort to prevent, prepare for, and respond to acts of terrorism and natural disasters," added the senator, whose Connecticut home is about 25 miles from New York.

Some congressional aides countered that the administration sought only $250 million for each of the programs in its fiscal 2010 request to Congress. The appropriation of $300 million apiece was clearly an increase, the aides said.

But homeland security grants are the bacon that lawmakers bring home -- especially in an election year -- and political battles over spending make for sizzling intrigue.

Schumer called White House Chief of Staff Emanuel Thursday urging the administration to increase funding to New York City for urban-area grants. The department is expected to announce those grant allocations this summer, and New York is slated to receive $151 million out of $832 million.

Schumer said urban-area grant funding should be increased by at least $57 million.

"It's not too late for the federal government to reaffirm its commitment to keeping New York City safe," Schumer said. "While we were disappointed by the cuts to New York's transit and port security grants, the biggest pot of anti-terror funds is still yet to come."

Lowey, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, has been circulating a letter calling on appropriators to increase funding for several grant programs in the fiscal 2011 Homeland Security spending bill.

"In light of the recent attempted bombing of Times Square and a number of other plots targeting New York, it is imperative that the region receive sufficient federal assistance to help prevent future attacks," she says in the letter, which was written to House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Rep. David Price, D-N.C.

Her letter asks for $1.15 billion for urban security grants; $1.1 billion for transit security grants; $950 million for state homeland security grants; and $40 million for the Securing the Cities program, which is intended to detect a nuclear or radioactive bomb near New York City.

Lowey also asked that the fiscal 2011 spending bill prevent the Coast Guard from eliminating New York's Maritime Security and Safety Team.