Wednesday, June 19, 2002
|
Wednesday, June 19, 2002 |
|
Collins urges caution on Homeland Security
U.S. Rep. Mac Collins issued the following statement regarding the President's plan to create a cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security (DHS): "I applaud the President's decision to strengthen our national defense and homeland security. It is very important, in light of the terrible attacks of Sept. 11, as well as previous attacks on our embassies, and military overseas, to take drastic steps to insure our safety. "The President's plan to create a Department of Homeland Security is a wise step toward consolidating various agencies toward the common goal of a safer nation. However, I am concerned that the creation of such a department will take an act of Congress. "Because of the narrow margins in the House of Representatives, and the leadership of Tom Daschle in the Senate, Congress has repeatedly shown that is incapable of making decisions based upon the best interests of the entire nation, without regard to political pettiness. I fear, that if Congress is given a free hand in creation of this department, it will operate in the same manner with which it has in the past, and fill the program with unneeded pork and special interest spending. Congress has demonstrated that they could mess up a two-car funeral. Unfortunately, we lack sufficient numbers of fiscal conservatives in the House and Senate to prevent such monkeying around. "Based upon these concerns, I have reservations about the ultimate outcome of such a plan. If, as I fear, Congress abuses this opportunity for political gain, it may create a plan that I would be unable to support. While I strongly support the idea of such a department, actual implementation remains to be seen. "I look forward to working on this issue, working with the President and my colleagues, to insure that sound policy, not politics, guide the debate in creating this cabinet post. I commend the President for his foresight in crafting this plan outside of the scrutiny of Congress before releasing it to the American public. This will help insure that it is based on doing what is best for America, and not a particular Member's district. A decision of this magnitude is too important for the goal of political gain."
|
||