"The best estimate of what is necessary, according to a consensus by industry and security experts, is $700 million minimum. Over the objections of Democrats, Congress has provided only $250 million for the ports, 35 percent less than originally authorized. In August, Bush vetoed a bill that would have placed Customs officials in foreign ports, to help check the cargo before it’s shipped."

and

"Wouldn’t you feel better if someone passed a Geiger counter over the cargo that comes into our ports? Bush and Mitchell Daniels are unconvinced. It’s not that they have a study saying it doesn’t make sense. They just don’t want to spend the money."

and

"Border security is another example. Congress authorized funding for 200 additional Immigration and Naturalization Service inspectors and 200 new INS investigators. Again, it sounds like a no-brainer; the agency is a mess, it’s true, but that’s mostly because it is overwhelmed. No one who has looked at the INS ever said it didn’t need more inspectors and investigators on the ground. But the president’s proposed “continuing resolution” doesn’t fund them."

and

"The longer we delay in making much-needed security improvements, the more vulnerable we become. The Republican continuing resolution delays $800 million for bioterrorism prevention (money that was requested immediately after September 11) and $3.5 billion for emergency rescue teams and other first responders."

and

"Since the election, the logjam has been broken and a new Department of Homeland Security will be in place soon. That’s good news. But the money to fund the programs of the new department is still hung up in continuing resolutions, and is too stingy to begin with. The blame for that — and for the overall slowness of our efforts to secure this country — rests mostly with President Bush."