Bush's -lean- $2.57 trillion budget....

Local law enforcement does recieve money in ATF funds to fight drug usage. It's a lot of money.

I'm not sure how much direct funding other than that they give, but if you put a large hole in one end of the budget, something's got to give on the other end to make up for it, whether it's underfundign at the federal level itself of the inability of states to continue their current levels of funding due to an underfunded dose of federal cash lately.

I can't turn a blind eye; I wouldn't have any left!

Cycloptichorn

great point.
even better statement.
I may just steal that line from ya every now and then. ;-)

Federal grants for law enforcement are not the same as funding local law enforcement.

The grant money is just like any federal grant. It must be applied for and have an intended purpose. Most of goes towards upgrading equipment like computer systems, cars, high-tech gear.

Obviously these grants are not effective or they would be continued at the same rate as last year.

What? Why do you think they are being cut for ineffectiveness? Wouldn't the fact that we don't have any money left be a much more likely reason?

Only Bush would present a budget that didn't count the war on terror, the social security crisis, or the impact of his tax cuts and consider it to be a realistic one...

It's like me saying 'well, I just won't count the electric and water payments this month. But they can't be shut off, either.' We're going to get our gas turned off, as a nation, and it's not going to be pretty.

Cycloptichorn