Friday, July 15, 2005

Durbin calls for more bus, rail security (but wants to weaken Patriot Act)

Illinois' senior senator, Richard Durbin, is calling for more security for America's bus and rail lines. In light of last week's of last week's terrorist attacks in London, that seems like a sensible idea.

According to this CBS 2 Chicago report, the mass transit security budget was decreased this week by Congress by $50 million dollars.

Said Durbin:

There is absolutely no good explanation for that decision,” Durbin said.

Durbin lashed out at federal authorities Friday for failing to provide more funding for train and bus security.

Counters Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff:

“The federal government is not going to own all the responsibility, not going to put guards all over the place -- it's not possible for us to do that."

Now, what's not in the CBS 2 Chicago article: Durbin is against America's best domestic weapon in the War on Terror--in my opinion, at least--the Patriot Act. Well, Durbin's never really said that he's against the Act, but he's sponsored (along with some Republicans) a watered down version of the Patriot Act, dubbed the SAFE Act.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has an open mind on limited changes to the Patriot Act, but for the most part wants to keep the Patriot Act the way it is.

Durbin does not.

No comments: