] Working together, Obey and Young compiled a list of the
] most immediate security needs neglected in the first
] round of funding. They decided that only those items
] agreed upon by both parties would make the list. "We
] stripped the list down to its bare essentials," Obey
] recalls. "When that was done, I asked my staff to cut the
] remaining list in half to make sure there was absolutely
] no 'soft stuff.'" They came up with a list that was very
] hard to argue with--computer upgrades for the FBI,
] improved security for ports and nuclear facilities, new
] customs agents, and other top homeland security
] priorities totaling about $10 billion. On November 6,
] 2001, Obey and Young, along with their Senate
] counterparts Robert Byrd and Ted Stevens, were ushered
] into the White House Cabinet Room to meet with President
] Bush. "I understand some of you may want to spend more
] money on homeland security than we have requested," Bush
] told them, according to members of both parties who
] attended. "My good friend [Budget Director] Mitch Daniels
] here assures me that our [$20 billion funding] request is
] adequate. ... I want to make it clear that if Congress
] appropriates one dollar more than we have requested, I
] will veto the bill."

Our present, unwilling to do what is necessary.