I can't imagine how that got to be on the table to start with. But we still have to let the appropriators work through this. The Senate Appropriations panel will take a different tack when it marks up its spending bill today. According to a summary of the bill obtained by Roll Call, the Senate will actually increase funding to nearly every Hill office. New Capitol Police Chief Jim Varey has emphasized the need for the new officers, as did his predecessor in the post, Gary Abrecht.
People feel very strongly about it.
And Democratic Senators are expected to continue their drumbeat of criticism over the House's proposed police cuts. The Capitol is one of the most open, accessible places we have. In addition to the Capitol Police, several other agencies will make out better under the Senate bill. While the House has targeted the Architect of the Capitol for a 17.7 percent budget cut, the Senate bill calls for a cut of just .1 percent. The Library of Congress, Office of Compliance, Congressional Budget Office and GAO would also get increases from the Senate.