The decision by the Department of Homeland Security to cut anti-terrorism funding to the two cities attacked on 9/11 has started having major fallout. The New York Daily News has a front page article titled “Feds to city: drop dead” (h/t Raw Story)

The city was stunned yesterday to find that its share of federal anti-terror funds was slashed nearly in half by bureaucrats who said it has no national icons to protect and lousy defense plans.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff determined, however, that cities that have never been targeted by Al Qaeda — like Louisville, Atlanta and Omaha — deserve whopping increases.

“This is a knife in the back,” fumed a furious Rep. Pete King (R-L.I.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. “As far as I’m concerned, the Department of Homeland Security has declared war on New York.”

Mayor Bloomberg ridiculed Homeland Security’s reasoning.

I read through the list of cities that received increases in funding and it is amazing. Most of the cities are heavily conservative and I was shocked to see that my hometown of Cincinnati was one of them. Cincinnati was a threat during World War 2 and the Cold War with GE being stationed here and also Proctor and Gamble, who within a couple hours could switch from making soap flakes to gun powder. This is of course no more.

The disbursement of anti-terrorism funds have constantly been under fire. States like Montana received more funding this year then places like New Jersey. It has become a hand out for the GOP and the money is not ear marked for true anti-terrorism measures. This is just another example of the right’s version of “smaller government”.