Feds screw NYC and Washington, D.C.

From Reuters ("New York, Washington angry about anti-terrorism funds," May 31, 2006):

The U.S. government has slashed 2006 counterterrorism funding by 40 percent for New York City and Washington -- two targets of the September 11 attacks -- sparking angry reactions in both cities on Wednesday.

New York City will receive $124.45 million -- the largest amount of Department of Homeland Security funding under its Urban Area Security Initiative. But officials criticized the government for the sharp decrease in funds from 2005 when it was granted about $207.6 million.

Rep. Peter King, a Republican from New York and chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, called the cut in funding "indefensible and disgraceful."

"New York City has been attacked twice and is doing more than any other city in the country to defend itself and our nation," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, DHS and the administration have declared war on New York City, and I am going to fight this as hard as I possibly can."

But then, what is Peter King expecting? He's a Republican. He should know better than anyone that his party has no interest in coming to the aid of his home state.

According to the article, "Washington mayor Anthony Williams also criticized the government for awarding the Washington area about $46.5 million, compared to $77.5 million last year."

Oh, and who got their funding increased? Those hotbeds of terrorist activity "Louisville, Kentucky; Charlotte, North Carolina and Omaha, Nebraska." Is it any conincidence that these cities in red states?