In a first of its kind, a report from The Heritage Foundation provides a fresh look at the billions of dollars in homeland security grants handed out to state and local governments. The report details the federal, state, and local spending from 2000 to 2007 in 26 states, the District of Columbia, and 85 cities and counties that make up Urban Areas Security Initiative jurisdictions.
Among the key findings:–States and localities spend a lot more every year then the federal government. The billions of federal dollars distributed have had a marginal impact on national preparedness.
States and localities spend significantly more money, have substantially more people, and are in a much better position from which to act.
The federal intrusion into what is traditionally and rightly the responsibility of state and local governments undermines the principle of Federalism laid out in the Constitution, while doing little to keep Americans safe from terrorist attacks or natural disasters.