Republicans keep Capitol security on the table in weighing areas for budget cuts

House Republicans are considering whether to cut the Capitol’s security as a way to trim the congressional budget.

Rep.
Tom Cole (R-Okla.) met with House Sergeant at Arms Bill Livingood on
Wednesday to discuss several areas of the Capitol’s security that could
be cut back in an effort to make good on the GOP promise of reining in
government spending.

“We talked a lot about security and what the real needs are,” said
Cole in an interview. “[Livingood] is sensitive to the fact that we’re
going to have to make some tough decisions.”

Lawmakers are not
interested in taking a hatchet to the Capitol’s security budget, Cole
said — rather, they’re planning to hold a series of lengthy
discussions about areas that were initially tightened in the wake of
the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“This is not a hostile takeover,” said Cole. “This is a productive
discussion. Our aim is the same as theirs. Nobody wants to make the
institution or people less secure. On the other hand, it’s been 10 years
since 9/11 and we did a lot of things then, that [it’s worth asking]
did we really need to do? Are there areas we need to do more in? It’s
that kind of thorough assessment.”

Cole is a key member of the Republican group charged with looking
at possible areas to cut within the House’s internal operations and
maintenance as the party transitions to power in January.

Rep.
Dan Lungren (R-Calif.), the soon-to-be chairman of the House
Administration Committee, agreed with Cole that security operations
should be looked at, but he said that Republicans should consult
closely with Livingood and Capitol Police officials.

“We should do what’s necessary to provide the appropriate security
of this place, but that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be looked at
just like anything else, including the defense budget,” said Lungren in
an interview.

Wednesday’s meeting came as the House was perched to vote on a
continuing resolution to keep the government operating through next
September. The measure would hold the legislative branch budget steady
at $4.65 billion, the same as FY2010 levels. Capitol officials
requested a 10 percent increase, for a total of $5.12 billion, for
FY2011.

Cole said no area of the legislative branch budget is going to be
immune from possible cuts next year, as the country’s economy reels and
jobless rates continue to rise.

“I don’t think Congress can ask other people to sacrifice and hold itself immune,” said Cole.

Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), chairman of the House
Administration Committee’s Subcommittee on Capitol Security, said he
welcomed Republicans looking at possible areas in the Capitol’s
security to cut back, such as rearranging the House’s schedule so fewer
officers are needed to guard the building’s entrances in the evening
hours. But, he emphasized, any changes should be made very carefully.
 
“I
have no problem looking at everything, including Capitol security,”
said Capuano. “But looking at it is one thing. But we need to listen to
experts. It’s not about a bottom dollar. It’s about security.”

A spokeswoman for the Capitol Police declined to comment.