SECURITY GROUP LOBBIES FOR QUICK LEGISLATION A recently formed group called the Homeland Security Industries Association (HSIA) met this week with members of Congress to push for quicker government spending to strengthen homeland security. The HSIA currently has about 100 members and considers itself a broad, umbrella group for any company with a stake in U.S. homeland security. Bruce Aitken, president of the HSIA, said the $2.9 billion reportedly spent by the U.S. government in 2002 for IT projects related to security was "diminutive compared to what it can be and what it should be." Celia Wexler of watchdog group Common Cause said the HSIA is one of several new lobbying organizations intent on getting "a piece of the multibillion dollar homeland security pie." Wexler said that although some groups like the HSIA do have positive impacts on certain issues, voters and lawmakers should be cautious about the efforts of such groups, some of which are simply "diving in for big bucks." IDG, 16 January 2003 http://www.idg.net/ic_1020867_9677_1-5046.html --
------------------------------------------------------- Drop Bush, Not Bombs! ------------------------------------------------------- "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." George Orwell ------------------------------------ END OF THE TRAIL SALOON Live music, comedy, call-in radio-oke Alternate Sundays, 6am GMT (10pm PDT) http://www.kvmr.org ----------------------------------- "I uke, therefore I am." -- Cool Hand Uke "I log on, therefore I seem to be." -- Rodd Gnawkin Visit Cool Hand Uke's Lava Tube: http://www.oro.net/~dscanlan
