WASHINGTON - The White House has announced a $US2.8 billion ($6.8 billion) package to boost New York's faltering economy after the September 11 World Trade Center attacks, but many say the aid is coming too slowly.
As he released the money - mostly for tax-exempt financing to help replace office space - White House budget director Mitch Daniels met New York lawmakers who pressed him to guarantee that their city will get $US20 billion in aid this year.
Daniels said New York, which bore the brunt of the September 11 attacks on the United States that killed some 4800 people, will get more than $US20 billion. But he said it would not be all at once.
He told reporters New York will get about $US10 billion from the $US40 billion emergency funding package Congress passed immediately after the attacks. The rest would come in later legislation.
But New York lawmakers, mostly Democrats, said the White House had committed to spend half of the $US40 billion on New York, and said the city's devastated financial district needed a big and immediate infusion of money.
"I don't think there's an issue of whether we're going to get $US20 billion. We're going to get more. The issue is when are we going to get it," Democrat Senator Charles Schumer said after the meeting with Daniels .
But President George W. Bush has come just short of threatening to veto another emergency spending package.
"He hasn't used the word veto, but ... we have enough money," Daniels said. About half of the $US40 billion is expected to go to the military.
Several New York Democrats are concerned that their city will not get all of the money as demands grow for more funds to shore up domestic security and carry out the military strikes against Afghanistan.
- REUTERS
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