It has been reported elsewhere that the Coast Guard has so far received only one-tenth as much money as it says it needs to do an effective job of protecting the country’s ports against terrorist attacks. And as we noted last month, the increased Coast Guard funding that has so far made it into the federal budget is there largely due to the efforts of Maine’s congressional delegation, particularly Sen. Olympia Snowe. The Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, is likely to adopt a port-funding formula based on container traffic alone, putting Portland close to the bottom nationally, despite the fact it’s the East Coast’s second largest oil-handling port.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security seems to be focusing elsewhere: in mid-June it issued a press release announcing grants of more than $300,000 to fire departments in four small Maine communities for a vehicle, for “fire prevention,” and for “operations and safety.” The receiving departments are in South Thomaston, Raymond, New Vineyard and Solon; whether they’re as likely to be the targets of terrorist attacks as the Portland Pipeline or the city’s busy harbor is arguable.
With all due respect to the hard-working fire departments involved, we still wonder if Homeland Security’s decisions really reflect its mission to protect us, or a political purpose that’s less noble.