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.