A plan to consolidate and reduce elite Coast Guard counter-terror patrols is drawing fire from New York’s senior senator.
In a cost-cutting measure, the Obama administration wants to consolidate New York’s Maritime Safety and Security Team with one that patrols Boston Harbor.
It would mean moving the New York team to Massachusetts. It also proposes eliminating the special squads in four other waterfront cities nationwide.
During a press conference Sunday, Senator Chuck Schumer called the proposal a foolish idea.
“Certainly the Obama administration has the right to seek and consolidate resources where it is warranted. But to move this unit that deals with terrorism from New York to Boston makes no sense whatsoever,” Schumer said. “If they’re going to consolidate, they should consolidate in New York, since we, of course, are a much greater terror threat than Boston.”
The units have patrolled the harbor and surrounding waterways since the September 11th attacks.
Schumer says if the Obama administration doesn’t abandon the cost-cutting proposal, he will block it.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Coast Guard insists the mission of the unit remains unchanged and that resources will continue to focus on the nation’s highest regional threats.
(Source: NY1)
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3 Responses
Uh, Mr. Senator, you endorsed the President when he was running, remember?
Even the Democrats are disagreeing with their ‘leader’. When common sense gets lost to ultra-liberal ideal,even the liberal Democrats draw the line.If there is no security then we don’t need liberals or conservatives but life savers
Chances are that this idea did not start with the President. The Coast Guard was probably asked to look for cost saving measures and came up with this one. I don’t see this as a major Democratic falling out with their leader. These types of budget disputes happen all of the time, even with Republicans.