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Emergency Money Coming, Ridge Tells States
The money still had not been appropriated when Congress adjourned in November. “We remain committed to the $3.5 billion in first responder money that the president asked for last year,” said Ridge, who spoke at a meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in Washington Wednesday. The request President Bush submitted last Spring […]
Visionary ‘Smart Growth’ Program Wins National Laurels
The program uses classroom instruction, less formal workshops and the Internet to make people aware of how their communities will grow under current policies and how they can change those policies to get better results. Launched under former Republican Gov. Paul Cellucci in 1999, the Massachusetts Community Preservation Initiative (CPI) started with an analysis of […]
States Showcase Model Security Plans
Dozens of state homeland security leaders are in Savannah, Ga. this week to discuss their plans at a “best practices” summit organized by the National Governors Association. Policy teams from seven states – Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Utah, West Virginia and the Virgin Islands have received several months of expert advice from officials at […]
Security Push Discourages Innovation
Shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Hawaii Department of Defense put finishing touches on a color-coded system to help government officials and business leaders assess future threats to their state. Less than six months later, the White House Office of Homeland Security (OHS) adopted a similar system to alert all Americans to possible […]
Environmental Measures Trigger Ballot Fights
If you like ice cream or soda pop, you’ve probably eaten products made with genetically-engineered corn or soybeans. The food industry is not required to tell you when products contain these ingredients, but a group of Oregonians hopes voters on Nov. 5 will make their state the first to mandate such disclosure. Oregon’s food labeling […]
One Year Later, States Better Prepared For Terror
Are the states better prepared to handle a terrorist attack than they were one year ago when Al Queda hijackers turned four U.S. passenger jets into weapons that killed nearly 3,000 people? Yes, but. That’s the answer from the man who managed New York State’s response to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade […]
Lawmakers’ Security Report Poses Questions
Ask state lawmakers what they’re doing to make the country safe from terrorism and what you’ll hear in reply is: We’re asking questions, questions and more questions. A report released Thursday (7/25) by a nationwide panel of state lawmakers meshes with the vision President Bush has articulated of a national partnership of federal, state and […]
Bush Security Plan: States To Share Roles, Costs
State and local governments “can and should play important roles” in protecting people and property from future terrorist activity and will share the $100 billion annual cost with the federal government, according to President Bush’s new homeland security blueprint State officials and policy analysts said they are pleased that the plan reflects most of their […]
State Emergency Aid Compact: 47 Down, Three To Go?
Legislation enabling Alaska to join the Emergency Mutual Aid Compact (EMAC) passed both houses of the state legislature in May without a dissenting vote. According to the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), which coordinates the compact, seven states have joined EMAC since Sept. 11. The other six are Alabama, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon and […]
State Leaders Back Bush Homeland Security Plan
In his televised address to the nation Thursday night (6/6), Bush said the proposed Department of Homeland Security’s top missions would include helping “state and local authorities respond quickly and effectively to emergencies.” Mindful of the long road that lies ahead as Congress debates the details, governors and state lawmakers applauded the Bush plan. “It […]
Emergency Communications A Major Problem
If the United States ever deals with another massive terrorist assault, the survival of thousands may depend upon one wonky, eight-syllable word: Interoperability. For police officers, firefighters, paramedics and others arriving at the scene of a major disaster, it means being able to speak directly and instantly with people you need. It turns out this […]
HHS Chief Touts Bioterrorism Response
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson is bragging about the turnaround time between passage of a $1.1 bioterrorism prevention bill and completion of state plans for spending the money. Thompson told the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday (5/2) that his department got first-round readiness plans from nearly every state health department less than 100 […]