New Jersey Dems slam spending cuts in rail security

New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) and Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) criticized cuts to rail security, calling them "reckless and dangerous."

Lautenberg and Holt rallied with workers at the Trenton Transit Center to oppose the cut. The pair said the Republican budget would reduce federal spending on rail security by 65 percent.

The topic is an issue again on Capitol Hill because Lautenberg scheduled a hearing this week  to examine reports that terrorist Osama bin Laden was planning to target American railways before he was killed. 

On Monday, he said again the potential plots should cause Republicans to reconsider their spending cuts.

"Six weeks after the American military’s raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound, one thing is clear: this ruthless killer is dead and gone, but Al Qaeda remains determined to strike the U.S. again,” Lautenberg, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, said in a statement. 

“Yet just weeks after reports that hand written notes from Osama bin Laden were found in his compound targeting our rails, the Tea Party Republicans in the House slashed funding for rail security," he continued.  "The Republican cuts to homeland security funding are reckless and dangerous for New Jersey and I’m going to fight in the Senate to defeat them.”  

Holt, whose district includes the Trenton Transit Center, agreed.

“In the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, we learned that Al Qaeda was actively plotting to attack the U.S. passenger rail system,” Holt said.  “Republicans have reacted to this news by slashing funding for rail security.  Even from a purely budgetary perspective, cutting rail security is penny-wise and pound-foolish.  A successful attack against a Northeast Corridor rail station could cost taxpayers billions in economic damage, lost revenue, and lost jobs – above and beyond the tragic loss of life.”

Lautenberg's subcommittee will hold its hearing on rail security Tuesday.