Sen. Coburn, NYC police chief clash over counterterrorism grants

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly traded barbs over an amendment Coburn pushed that would have prohibited spending on some Homeland Security grants.

Coburn's office described the amendment as one that "would prohibit certain homeland security grants to be spent on conferences, excessive pay, and other unnecessary items."

The New York Police Department though uses some of the $150 million in yearly federal counterterrorism funding to pay overtime.

Kelly wrote a letter to Coburn arguing that cutting that funding "would jeopardize our collective efforts to safeguard New York City," according to the New York Daily News.

"I got his letter," Coburn said according to the New York newspaper. "Grow up!"

Coburn added that "everybody is gonna get cut" as Washington works to rein in the nation’s deficit.

"So they've got to grow up a little," he said.

The amendment was rejected by the Senate on Wednesday in a 48-51 vote.

---