Senators have defeated an amendment offered by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to the Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 2892) by a vote of 47 to 51.
The amendment would remove an earmark funding request in the bill of $6 million for the Intercity Bus Security Grant Program. The program “provides funding to create a sustainable program for the protection of intercity bus systems and the traveling public from terrorism.”
It also “seeks to assist operators of fixed-route intercity and charter bus services in obtaining the resources required to support security measures such as enhanced planning, facility security upgrades, and vehicle and driver protection.”
Senator McCain said that President Obama’s proposed 2010 budget called for the elimination of the program, but an “unauthorized” earmark in the underlying Homeland Security bill would fund it anyway.
Of note: This vote was the first to be cast by Senator Al Franken (D-MN). He was on the winning side, voting “no.”
Congress in Your Pocket
