Bush Declares State of Emergency for Inauguration

Sheryl Gay Stolberg
NY Times
Wednesday, Jan 14, 2008

It’s true, President Bush sounded alarms about Barack Obama during the campaign season. On Tuesday, Mr. Bush went one step further: He declared Mr. Obama’s inauguration an actual emergency.

The declaration, though, was not a political statement about Republicans being run out of town. Rather, it was a bureaucratic move intended to provide additional federal money to help the District of Columbia cope with the massive crowds that are expected to turn out for the swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20 that will make Mr. Obama the nation’s first black president.

The government has already set aside $15 million to help the District pay for security and medical personnel. But the District’s mayor, Adrian M. Fenty, asked for more money on January 7, citing possible crowds of 1.5 million to 2 million and “the associated stresses that would place on the city’s capabilities, particularly the medical community,” said Scott Stanzel, a spokesman for Mr. Bush.

Mr. Bush granted the request as “a precaution,” Mr. Stanzel said; if the District needs the money, it can apply for reimbursement through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The declaration will also allow federal public health workers to join in the public safety effort.

The president’s power to declare a state of emergency is typically used after hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters, although Mr. Stanzel said presidents have occasionally declared emergencies in advance of an anticipated event.

But never before, he said, has an advance emergency declaration been used for a “non-disaster.”

Obama being elected IS a state of emrgency!!!

lol

i'm interested in knowing what other laws come into effect as a result of a state of emergency declaration - I just have a hard time believing Bush will leave quietly - of course I believe he knew about 9/11 beforehand