Homeland spending bill approved in closed session

The House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Thursday approved a $29.4 billion fiscal 2004 appropriations bill during a closed session, despite Democrats' pleas to keep the meeting open to the public.

After a 9-7 party-line vote to close the meeting, the panel approved the spending bill by voice vote, according to a committee spokesman who declined to provide any other information about what occurred during the closed session.

The spokesman said the decision to close the meeting to the public was based on a "longstanding practice" of excluding the public from subcommittee sessions that deal with "sensitive" information, mainly in the areas of defense, energy and water.

But Democrats argued that the homeland security spending provisions did not include any classified or sensitive information.

"The only thing we do when we close a meeting is deny the public [information] that I think they have a right to," said Appropriations ranking member David Obey, D-Wis.

Democrats also charged that the Homeland Security Department has not been forthcoming with information about its activities. Rep. Martin Olav Sabo, D-Minn., said he was "very concerned" about the department's "lack of structure" in providing Congress with "even the most basic information."

Obey said he detected "some kind of arrogance" among Homeland Security officials with regards to sharing information with Congress. "I think they have an obligation to respect the fact that Congress has the power of the purse," Obey said.

The $29.4 billion package approved Thursday would be an increase of more than $1 billion over President Bush's 2004 budget request, and $535 million over 2003 levels, according to Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky.

Programs for first responders would be funded at $4.4 billion under the bill, which is $888 million more than Bush requested. The legislation also provides nearly $5.2 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, which is a $360 million increase over Bush's request. Another provision would fund border security programs at $9 billion, which is a $400 million increase over 2003 levels.

But Obey said the Coast Guard and many other agencies need more money to protect the nation from terrorist threats. Obey said Democrats had originally planned to offer an amendment adding $500 million to the spending package, including $100 million for Coast Guard activities.

Obey said "substantial incompetence" among Homeland Security Department personnel had prompted him to think twice about offering the amendment. "There is such a legitimate concern about the ability of the agency to use its money effectively ... that I'm hesitant to appropriate one dime," Obey said.

He also complained during the open portion of the meeting that Democrats have been "systematically shut down" in their attempts to offer alternatives to GOP-favored legislation to include more low-income families in the child tax credit. "We've seen this time and time again," Obey said.