# 59 Bush to stiff D.C. with inauguration bill.

He's sending *my* money abroad at his whim, but he's going to stiff D.C. for his inauguration bill? Why does he need extra security? Isn't his Homeland Security program working? Why does he need such a fancy, expensive coronation inauguration - he's already the president? Why not cut expenses on the inauguration and use the leftover funds for the tsunami victims?

Arrogance does not begin to describe it.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63896-2005Jan10.html

U.S. Tells D.C. to Pay Security Expenses

By Spencer S. Hsu

Washington Post
Staff Writer

Tuesday, January 11, 2005; Page A01

D.C. officials said yesterday that the Bush administration is refusing to reimburse the District for most of the costs associated with next week's inauguration, breaking with precedent and forcing the city to divert $11.9 million from homeland security projects.

Federal officials have told the District that it should cover the expenses by using some of the $240 million in federal homeland security grants it has received in the past three years -- money awarded to the city because it is among the places at highest risk of a terrorist attack.

"We want to make this the best possible event, but not at the expense of D.C. taxpayers and other homeland security priorities," said Gregory M. McCarthy, the mayor's deputy chief of staff. "This is the first time there hasn't been a direct appropriation for the inauguration."

"It's an unfunded mandate of the most odious kind. How can the District be asked to take funds from important homeland security projects to pay for this instead?" said Davis spokesman David Marin.