Pressure grows for more emergency spending

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young, R-Fla., meets today with House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., Office of Management and Budget Director Mitch Daniels and White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card on supplemental funding to respond to the Sept. 11 attacks, as pressure escalates from Democrats and at least two subcommittee chairmen to spend more than $40 billion.

At the same time, New York members of both parties are pushing hard--after what some called an unsatisfying meeting with Daniels Thursday--for the full $20 billion the President promised for New York's recovery--even though Daniels said only about $10 billion would be provided this year.

Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky., and VA-HUD Subcommittee Chairman James Walsh, R- N.Y., said more is needed.

Ranking member David Obey, D-Wis., wants as much as $20 billion added to the fiscal 2002 Defense appropriations supplemental title for a wide array of defense and domestic security needs.

And Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., plans to attach to the stimulus bill $20 billion in additional spending for homeland security put together by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.

Asked whether $20 billion is enough for the congressional supplemental, Walsh said: "No. I think it needs to go up--and I'm not talking about waiting until the spring. We need more now."

Rogers said, "I think we could spend more now" on things such as airport and rail security and the Coast Guard. "There are needs we are unable to meet with this money," Rogers adding, referring to the $20 billion.

Pressure to expand the supplemental also is coming from New Yorkers, many of whom insist that their state get the full $20 billion they were promised this year.

At his meeting with the delegation Thursday, Daniels satisfied New Yorkers that the administration's commitment to providing at least $20 billion is "rock solid," but all of it might not come immediately. He later told reporters that New York would get "somewhere around $10 billion" this year.

A frustrated Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said, "If it was College Station, Texas, they would be shipping the money by rail car, by truck, instead of giving us eyedrops like they are now."

Fellow New York Democratic Rep. Maurice Hinchey said: "I don't think there's been an adequate response [from the administration]. If the city doesn't get an infusion of cash immediately, the recovery is going to be put off exponentially."

Others, including Walsh, were satisfied that the President would fulfill his commitment and provide the money eventually.

But both Republicans and Democrats were exasperated that Daniels did not stay longer to talk to them.

"I'm very dissatisfied," said Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., "We never got to have a discussion about hard dollars to New York. I consider it a missed opportunity."

Daniels unveiled a $2.8 billion economic assistance package for New York that comprises $700 million in community development block grants, $2 billion in tax-exempt financing to replace commercial office space in lower Manhattan and $110 million in savings from federal welfare and food stamp mandates.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called the package "a nice first step." But he said, "We need a lot more than the White House has proposed."