Posted by
Defend America on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 9:26:54 AM
Sen. Dodd, D-Conn., slashed aviation security funding for pet constituency
By: Mark Hemingway
Commentary Staff Writer
12/28/09 12:24 PM EST
Now that our attention is focused on airline security measures
thanks to the failed airline attack on Christmas Day, it's worth
mentioning that one Senator took money away from aviation security to
line the pockets of constituency that supported his presidential
campaign in a big way.
Back in July, Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn., proposed an amendment
reducing aviation security appropriations by $4.5 million in favor of
firefighter grants -- a notoriously inneffective program.
In fact, the money was specifically "for screening operations and the
amount for explosives detection systems." The amendment was also
sponsored by Sen. Lieberman, D-Conn., and Sen. Carper, D-Del., but Dodd
deserves to be singled out here because the firefighters union is a pet
constituency of his. In 2007 he campaigned all through Iowa with the firefighters union. It was one of the few distinguishable features of Dodd's ill-fated presidential bid.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Sen-Dodd-D-Conn-slashed-aviation-security-funding-for-pet-constituency-80209967.html