Submitted by Tom on Sat, 2009-12-12 12:25
From the DCCC: Despite the economic emergency forcing Iowa’s communities to cut back on law enforcement, Representative Tom Latham has once again opposed a bill to hire more police officers to fight violent crime and keep families safe.
“Representative Tom Latham’s vote against helping Iowa communities hire and retain more police officers during a time of steep budget cutbacks proves once again how out of touch Latham is with the economic emergency on Main Street,” said Ryan Rudominer, National Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “The very last thing Representative Latham should be willing to sacrifice in tough economic times is the safety and security of Iowa families.”
· The Consolidated Appropriations Act of FY 2010 (HR 3288) provides $3.71 billion for grants to aid local and state law enforcement and crime victims [HR 3288, #949, 12/10/09].
· The measure includes $792 million to support local law enforcement agencies with hiring, technology, training, body armor, and sex-offender management grants.
o This includes $298 million to hire or retain 1,400 police officers.
· Earlier this year, Representative Tom Latham opposed the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act. [Roll Call Vote, 2/13/2009]
· The Obama Administration announced in July that $1 billion is being made available through the Recovery Act to hire and rehire police officers. [http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/28/police.stimulus]