In N.Y. State Of Mind, Weiner Sounds Alarm For First Responders

By Greta Wodele

Overhauling the funding formula for "first responders" not only reverberates on Capitol Hill, but the debate could also spill over into next year's New York City mayoral race.

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., who reportedly would like to challenge Republican New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg next year, has been out front on the issue. Weiner, along with Republicans and Democrats from New York and New Jersey, has argued that the current funding formula does not provide adequate funding for cities with higher risks of a terrorist attack.

Weiner, however, has also launched attacks against Bloomberg, criticizing his efforts to secure more funding for the city's firefighters, police officers and other first responders.

"Bloomberg has rolled over and waited for people to scratch his tummy," said Weiner in an interview recently. Weiner's spokesman confirmed Thursday the Queens lawmaker is "considering" a 2005 mayor's race.

In a news release issued during the Republican convention last month, Weiner criticized Bloomberg for not using the opportunity to pressure the Bush administration to provide more funding for first responders and other programs.

"It was one of his last, best chances to take on a president who's cut funding for New York City schools and firefighters, police and homeland security, transportation and housing, and much, much more," said Weiner. "But he didn't do it."

Bloomberg, for his part, has been negotiating with House Homeland Security Chairman Cox on garnering more money for the city. Cox authored legislation to make the funding formula a risk-based program but it stalled because of Bloomberg's objections and demands for changes. Afterward, Cox successfully tweaked the language in favor of New York City, and it is currently part of the House GOP's larger 9/11 package.

On Wednesday, Weiner was also triumphant on the issue. He added first responder provisions to the 9/11 omnibus bill during a Judiciary markup that would reauthorize the Community Oriented Policing Services program through 2007; authorize homeland security funding to pay for salaries of local counter-terrorism and intelligence law enforcement officials, and require the government to retroactively reimburse states for overtime and other costs during homeland security missions after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Weiner's spokesman said his office had "no guarantees" the language would remain in the 9/11 measure when the House Rules Committee debates the measure early next week. One Republican aide, whose boss opposes the provisions, believed the language would not survive the Rules committee.

When the House takes up the measure next week, an earlier debate could resurface. During a debate on the FY05 Homeland Security spending bill, a bitter fight erupted between rural and urban lawmakers over funding. The rural lawmakers successfully took down an amendment that would have provided more funding for high-risk areas.