at the southern border. It is presumed that remainder of the $1.1 billion dollars will be headed toward the development of a worker identification system and a database, which can be accessed by different modes of transportation. DOT officials said that there is an increasing need to identify how people and cargo move across the transportation system and identify contents at the point of origin. The DOT has been inundated with hundreds of security proposals about funding such things as credentials and scanners.ANALYSIS: As the White House moves to pay for a myriad of security programs other programs are facing deep cuts. Federal Highway spending would fall 26% under the Bush budget plan, to $23.3 billion. Last years $31.8 billion highway spending budget was the highest in history. Interestingly enough, the $8.5 billion cut in federal aide to highways almost covers the $8.8 billion the Bush administration proposed to spend for transportation security. Highway projects are just one of many areas that will feel the effects of record increases in spending for domestic security. Sharp cuts in congressional environmental initiatives, job training and scores of other domestic programs reflect the trade offs required by the 2003 budget. However, there seems to be a bipartisan move afoot in Congress to boost spending by dipping into federal reserves. Bush administration official appeared cool to the move. With war expenditures, the economic downturn and a major tax cut consuming the budget surplus, Bush has little choice but to cut or freeze spending in many parts of the government and to dip into Social Security and Medicare funds that previously were off limits, according to administration officials, congressional aides and special interest groups.RECOMMENDATION: There is no doubt that there is a need for increased security along Americas borders and in Americas transportation system to keep from repeating the tragic events of Septemb...
