75 Days: Dole Opposed Funding for Law Enforcement

DAY 75

How safe are North Carolinians with Elizabeth Dole in office? Despite the usual big talk about her accomplishments for sheriffs, Dole has consistently voted to cut funding for COPS and other programs that North Carolina law enforcement officials have found to be invaluable. Dole’s votes have cost North Carolina law enforcement billions of dollars that would have helped fight crime and keep families safe. Over the next two days, Kay will receive endorsements from sheriffs from all over North Carolina who believe that Kay is the best candidate in this race.

DOLE HAS OPPOSED FUNDING FOR CRITICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS IN NORTH CAROLINA

COPS Program Has Sent More Than $181 Million To North Carolina. As of March 2006, the COPS program had sent $181.3 million in grants to law enforcement agencies in North Carolina, funding 2,919 additional officers and sheriff deputies and 146 school resource offices to make schools safer. According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, COPS programs “have made it possible for communities throughout the nation to not only hire additional police officers, but also to ensure that they are well training, well equipped, and positioned to protect our nation’s citizens from crime and violence.” [COPS Quick Facts, North Carolina, 3/3/06; IACP Legislative Agenda For The 110th Congress, Accessed 8/7/08]

March 2008: Dole Voted Against A Budget That Restored Funding For The COPS Program. In March 2008, Dole voted against Senate Democrats’ FY 2009 budget. According to the Budget Committee, “The Chairman’s Mark rejects the President’s proposal to eliminate the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), a cut of $599 million below the 2008 level adjusted for inflation…The Chairman’s Mark instead funds the COPS program at the 2008 inflation-adjusted level.” [Vote 85, 3/14/08; Chairman’s Mark of FY 2009 Budget Resolution, 3/6/08]

March 2007: Dole Voted Against FY08 Budget Resolution That Included $552 Million For The COPS Program. In March 2007, Dole voted against the Senate Democrats’ Fiscal Year 2008 budget, which funded the Community Orienting Policing Services (COPS) program at the 2007 inflation-adjusted level of $552 million. The budget that President Bush had proposed included a 94% cut, or $520 million, to the COPS program. [Vote 114, 3/23/07; Chairman’s Mark of FY 2008 Budget Resolution, 3/14/07]

September 2005: Dole Voted Against $1 Billion For COPS. In September 2005, Dole voted against providing an additional $1 billion for the Community Oriented Policing Services program in Fiscal Year 2006. [Vote 226, 9/13/05; CQ Today, 9/16/05]

March 2005: Dole Voted Against $1 Billion For COPS. In March 2005, Dole voted against an amendment that would have increased the discretionary spending limit by $1 billion and decreased the five-year tax cut reconciliation instruction figure by $2 billion. It would increase funding for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) by $1 billion and use $1 billion to reduce the deficit. [Vote 70, 3/17/05]

March 2003: Dole Voted Against Increasing COPS Funding By $1 Billion. In 2003, Dole voted against an amendment to increase spending on Community Oriented Policing (COPS) programs by $1 billion in fiscal 2004 and put $1 billion toward deficit reduction. The spending would be offset by a $2 billion reduction in tax cuts. The amendment was rejected 48-52. [Vote 78, 3/21/03; CQ Bill Track, 3/21/03]

In 2007, Dole Voted To Cut Byrne/Justice Assistance Grants By 67%. In 2007, Dole voted in favor of the FY08 omnibus appropriations bill, which would cut funding for the Byrne/Justice Assistance Grants Program from $520 million in FY07 to $170.4 million in FY08. [Vote 441, 12/18/07]

Chiefs Of Police: Byrne Justice Grants Reduce Impact Of Crime. According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Byrne Justice Assistant Grant Programs “help reduce the impact of drug and firearm traffickers, gangs, pharmaceutical diversion, and organized crime in America’s communities.” The IACP has made the funding of Byrne Grants a legislative priority. [IACP Legislative Agenda For The 110th Congress, Accessed 8/7/08]

March 2003: Dole Voted Against $1 Billion For Byrne Grants & Local Law Enforcement. In March 2003, Senate Republicans voted against increasing funding for first responders by $1 billion in Fiscal Year 2003 and $2.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2004. The amendment Dole voted against would also increase funding for Byrne Grants by $650 million and Local Law Enforcement Block Grants by $400 million in Fiscal Year 2004. [Vote 92, 3/25/03; Congressional Quarterly, 3/25/03; Congressional Record, 3/25/03]

January 2001: Dole Voted Against Providing $634.7 Million To Rural Law Enforcement For Anti-Drug Enforcement. In 2003, Dole voted against an effort to provide $634.7 million for the Edward Byrne Memorial Grant Program, which provides money to rural law enforcement agencies for anti-drug enforcement. [Vote 6, 1/17/03]

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