REPUBLICANS vs. THE FACTS

As usual, Republicans play lip service to our nation's security

Below are the description and the vote on Senate Amendment 220 that a Democrat sponsored to restore funding that Republicans had cut from the FY06 Homeland Security budget. It passed the Senate by a vote of 63-37 and the 37 Senators who voted 'no' are listed below. Do you see anything about the 37 Senators who voted 'no' that would give you any indication of which party is serious about the security of our nation?

Senate Amendment 220
To protect the American people from terrorist attacks by restoring $565 million in cuts to vital first-responder programs in the Department of Homeland Security, including the State Homeland Security Grant program, by providing $150 million for port security grants and by providing $140 million for 1,000 new border patrol agents.

NAYs ---37
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Frist (R-TN)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lott (R-MS)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Santorum (R-PA)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Thomas (R-WY)
Voinovich (R-OH)

Do you see any 'no' votes from Democrat Senators?

The total restored to homeland security was $855 million. Keep in mind, George Bush is spending that same amount, $855 million, every 2 1/2 days in his made-up 'war on terrorism' debacle in Iraq. Every 2 1/2 days!

Along with that, the House of Representatives proposed $150 million in rail and transit security funding for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2005. The Senate Appropriations Committee (read-REPUBLICANS again) proposed cutting related grants for fiscal 2006 by $50 million to $100 million. $50 million? That's what Bush is wasting every 3 1/2 hours in Iraq.

As usual, Republicans are liars, pretenders and downright fools who talk a big game on security. And as usual it is Democrats who are fighting them tooth and nail to deliver on national security. Republicans can lie and spin all they want but Democrats have the facts and the voting record to back their argument.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00064