Giffords shootingRep. Clyburn calls for increased spending on lawmakers' safety
After the shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords, Representative James Clyburn called for increases in spending to protect lawmakers; the House voted last week to reduce its operating budget by 5 percent; Congressional security officials are currently reviewing security measures and briefing members and their staffers on security
Rep. Clyburn is calling for increased Capitol security // Source: reuters.com
In the wake of the shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-Arizona) in Tuscon, Representative James E. Clyburn(D–South Carolina), the House assistant minority leader, called for increases in spending to enhance security for congressional representatives.Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Clyburn said, “We ought to take a look [at congressional members’ security and personal spending accounts] rather than cut, cut, cut.” According to the Washington Times, the House voted last week to cut its operating budget by 5 percent. This will reduce each of the 435 representatives’ operating budget of $1.5 million by an estimated $75,000, likely resulting in reductions in staff.
Freshman Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-Missouri) disagrees with Clyburn stating, “This is an isolated incident by a deranged person similar to other tragic shootings at post offices, schools, places of work. I don’t believe extra security measures are warranted, nor that political rhetoric had anything to do with it.”
Congressional security officials are currently reviewing existing security measures and the Senate’s top security official is urging Members and their staff to be more attentive to security needs.
Terrance Gainer, the Senate’s Sergeant-at-Arms, said, “I don’t think you’ll see dramatically different steps. I don’t think you’ll see dignitary protection teams with every Member of Congress. I don’t think that’s the way we should spend limited law enforcement resources.”
Instead, he believes that “it will force the Members and staff to think differently about their events.”
To assist members, Gainer circulated a document to chiefs of staff with “concrete things you can do” to “minimize risk.”
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has requested that the Sergeant-at-Arms, Capitol Police, and FBI to hold a security overview for members on Wednesday in addition to a briefing for district directors.
