INSIDE WASHINGTON/Time is running out
Acknowledging that their signature issues likely will not be addressed by Congress until after the November elections, local officials say they have narrowed their top priorities to two: homeland security and transportation. Lawmakers return in September with only one of the 13 appropriations bills completed and little time for Congress and the White House to resolve their legislative differences before fiscal year 2004 ends and members return home for a month of partisan campaigning.
Representatives from three Washington, D.C.-based local government lobbying organizations — National League of Cities (NLC), U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and National Association of Counties (NACo) — say swift passage of the fiscal year 2005 Homeland Security spending bill and approval of the road and transit bill (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century) should be Congress’ top priorities.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels charges that the White House is responsible for holding up the transportation bill, because President Bush refuses to accept Congress’ bipartisan request to fund the measure in the $300 billion range. The White House has offered a counter proposal of around $280 billion. “I really think it is more that the administration is not willing to look at a more substantial program,” Nickels says.
Approval of the Homeland Security funding bill would help infuse critical funds to local governments that have been burdened with the additional responsibility of homeland security duties in the wake the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The recent security alerts in Washington, D.C., and Northern New Jersey, plus New York City’s elevated alert status, emphasize the need for those dollars to be delivered to local governments sooner rather than later, says Larry Naake, NACo’s executive director. But Naake points out the call for Congress to revamp the nation’s intelligence operation this year puts added stress on an already full list of priorities.
Nevertheless, Congress is likely to complete its work on the Homeland Security bill and then return after the November elections for a lame duck session. To do that, Congress also will be required to pass a continuing resolution to keep the federal government operating at 2004 levels until an agreement is reached on a 2005 spending plan.
In recent years, it has become more common for Congress to rely on a continuing resolution until all differences are settled and its work is completed. In the 2004 appropriations cycle, Congress approved seven continuing resolutions before Democrats and Republicans were able to forge an agreement in January — nearly four months into the current fiscal year.
Arlington, Mass., Selectman Charlie Lyons says local officials as well as voters will be paying close attention to see how President Bush and Democratic presidential nominee Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry address key national issues — not describing their foreign policy plans, but how they will handle festering domestic problems, ranging from education to housing. “President Bush has got to start thinking about his legacy if he gets re-elected, and Kerry has got to start thinking about what his priorities are,” says Lyons, who also serves as NLC’s president.
The author is Washington correspondent for American City & County.
