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Lawmakers may spend more on emergency©Los Angeles Times
© St. Petersburg Times, WASHINGTON -- Despite President Bush's efforts to keep a lid on the budget until next year, pressure is growing on Capitol Hill to go beyond the $40-billion in emergency funding lawmakers approved three days after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. Congressional Democrats and some influential Republicans are pushing on multiple fronts to raise spending for New York disaster aid, military operations and homeland security. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said Wednesday that he is "100 percent certain" that Congress will exceed the $40-billion sum before it wraps up this year -- even though billions of dollars from that pool have yet to be spent. And Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Largo, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, also has signaled that he is open to raising the ante. Young's position is critical; his committee is expected to move within the next several days on a White House proposal to allocate some emergency funds. Heightening the tension over funding is the possibility that urgent priorities -- rebuilding New York City, thwarting terrorist plots, beefing up public health, supporting U.S. military action in Afghanistan -- could be pitted against each other if the total pool of money remains unchanged. "There's huge concern," said Rep. John E. Sweeney, R-N.Y., a member of the Appropriations Committee. He and others in the New York congressional delegation are fighting to preserve what they regard as a firm commitment of at least $20-billion for recovery in New York and other areas affected by the Sept. 11 attacks. "Listen, we recognize that there are other substantial, significant priorities. But we also know that it shouldn't be expected that all of these other priorities are going to be paid for on the backs of New Yorkers," he said. The delegation plans to give that pointed message today to White House budget director Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. in a meeting on Capitol Hill. New Yorkers have praised Bush for unhesitatingly endorsing billions of dollars in aid to the city after terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center. But on Wednesday the president renewed his plea for fiscal restraint even as the federal government races to respond to threats. "I caution the Congress not to overspend," Bush said in a speech in Washington to business leaders. "The temptation is to fund everybody's good idea. And my attitude is that our money ought to be focused and effective." White House budget officials say New York cannot spend the full $20-billion right away and reiterate that the state will get that much and probably more. "We want New York City to be on her feet. It's an important symbol for the world that New York City be strong and vibrant," Bush said Wednesday. Some New York lawmakers who see priorities shifting say they must make the White House live up to its pledge. Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., released a detailed list showing where the full $20-billion is needed, from overtime costs for city police and firefighters to World Trade Center cleanup to subway infrastructure repairs. Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., worries about the form the aid is taking. Some of the money that has been appropriated is small business loans, which must be paid back. And included in New York's $20-billion was $1.7-billion from the president's economic stimulus package, which has yet to make it through Congress. "As I understood the promise that came in the emotional moments after the attacks, New York would get hard dollars," he said. "Now I'm beginning to get a sense that that may not be the case." So far, the administration has spent $8.8-billion from the $40-billion Congress approved: more than $5.3-billion for the Defense Department, $2.5-billion for New York and the rest for law enforcement and other terror-related activities. It also has sent Congress a detailed proposal on how to spend an additional $20-billion from the emergency fund. That proposal, which requires another congressional vote of approval, includes an additional $7.4-billion for defense and $6.3-billion for New York recovery. - Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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