Inauguration cost update

From today's Washington Post:

D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams yesterday criticized the Bush administration's refusal to reimburse the District for costs related to tomorrow's inauguration, calling it "an unfunded mandate" that promises to gobble up cash needed to prepare the nation's capital for a potential terror attack.

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"This is not a good precedent, and it is not a good planning tool, to use preparedness funds when you really don't have an emergency," Williams said. "Whether it's in Washington, or whether it's in Boston, or whether it's in any city, if there's a major national event, homeland security funds should not be used. And we certainly shouldn't be pushing on cities unfunded mandates to support these events."