(MYSTIC) - Rob Simmons, candidate for US Senate, made the following statement in reaction to the Obama Administration's proposed budget cuts in the U.S. Coast Guard's maritime counterterrorism teams, while proposing $200 million in funding for a civilian trial for self-described 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed:

"It is deeply troubling that the Administration thinks the best way to fight terrorism is to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to grant constitutional rights and civilian trials to terrorists, while slashing funding for the U.S. Coast Guard's maritime counterterrorism teams, including the team protecting New York City.

"We are a nation at war against a dangerous enemy that seeks to attack our citizens on American soil. We must keep our focus on ensuring our intelligence agencies are gathering and sharing information and our security efforts are fully funded, not on ensuring the rights of terrorists.

"I call on Attorney General Blumenthal to join the bipartisan effort to ensure the President drop his plan for civilian trials for terrorists and move to restore critical funding to the U.S. Coast Guard."

FACTS

The Obama Administration's Budget Is Proposing $75 Million In Cuts To The U.S. Coast Guard, Including Cutting The Maritime Counterterrorism Team That Protects New York City Ports. "The Coast Guard is facing a $75 million budget cut that will cost them 1,100 uniformed personnel. Slated for cuts are five of the maritime counterterrorism teams, including the one charged with protecting New York City. The teams were created in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks to address waterborne terror threats." (Kasie Hunt, "Sens. Susan Collins And Joe Lieberman Want To Cut Money For Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's Trial," Politico, 2/23/10)

The Same Budget Maintains $200 Million For Expected Security Costs Associated With Civilian Trials For Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. "The Obama administration is proposing a $200 million fund to help pay for security costs in cities hosting the trials of accused terrorists such as Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed." ("Obama Seeks $200M For Terror Trials," The Associated Press, 1/31/10)

A Bipartisan Effort Led By Sens. Joe Lieberman (D/I-CT) And Susan Collins (R-ME) Seeks To Cut Funding For The Trial And Restore Funding For The Coast Guard."Two key senators want to slash funding for civilian terror trials and give the money to the U.S. Coast Guard. Senate Homeland Security Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the panel's top Republican, want to use the $200 million the Obama budget proposes for the controversial civilian trials and use it to restore budget cuts for the Coast Guard. 'Since I think terrorist trials should be conducted in a military, rather than a civilian, setting, the proposed $200 million set aside for security at civilian terror trials would be far better spent shoring up the critical operations of the U.S. Coast Guard,' Lieberman said in a statement." (Kasie Hunt, "Sens. Susan Collins And Joe Lieberman Want To Cut Money For Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's Trial," Politico, 2/23/10)

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