House Votes ‘No’ on Ports—‘Yes’ Is Likely on Star Wars

Truthdig says:

The House just voted down an amendment that would have provided $1.25 billion for port inspections and disaster preparedness. Meanwhile, as Think Progress points out, the Bush budget contains an increase of $1.7 billion for a Star Wars-esque missile defense program--which doesn’t even work.

May the Force be with us.

Think Progress:

Moments ago, the House of Representatives narrowly defeated an amendment proposed by Rep. Martin Sabo (D-MN) that would have provided $1.25 billion in desperately needed funding for port security and disaster preparedness. The Sabo amendment included:

- $300 million to enable U.S. customs agents to inspect high-risk containers at all 140 overseas ports that ship directly to the United States. Current funding only allows U.S. customs agents to operate at 43 of these ports.

- $400 million to place radiation monitors at all U.S. ports of entry. Currently, less than half of U.S. ports have radiation monitors.

- $300 million to provide backup emergency communications equipment for the Gulf Coast.

Meanwhile, the Bush budget - which most of the members who voted against this bill will likely support - contains an increase of $1.7 billion for missile defense, a program that doesn’t even work.

Full story

From aoqz76.dsl.pipex.com

The House voted against an amendment on March 16 that would have funded port security and disaster preparedness--and it paved the way for passage of Bush’s budget, which contains a $1.7-billion increase for the Star Wars-esque missile defense program.