Bush Shortchanges US Police

Posted by Paddy , The Political Carnival at 3:26 PM on May 28, 2008.

Not my headline, McClatchy's. As the protesters said today, "Endless War, End This War".

WASHINGTON — At the same time the Bush administration has been pushing for deep cuts in a popular crime-fighting program for states and cities, the White House has been fighting for approval of $603 million for the Iraqi police.

The White House earlier this year proposed slashing the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, which helps local law enforcement officials deal with violent crime and serious offenders, to $200 million in the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

In 2002, the year before the Iraq war, the program received $900 million.

The administration and the Democratic-controlled Congress are headed for a showdown over the domestic money, probably next month. When the Senate last week passed the emergency Iraq war funding bill, it allotted an immediate $490 million for the domestic grants while keeping the Iraqi police funds intact.

The House is expected to consider the package when it returns from its Memorial Day recess next week. But the domestic grants are the kind of spending that's causing Bush to threaten a veto.

Yep, you read that right. We're freaking MADE of money if it benefits Iraq, but can't be bothered to pony up the cash to protect our own cities. I'm surprised they haven't contracted the local police forces out to Blackwater yet.