Denver security planners now can count on up to $50 million for use during preparation for and staging of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Congress wrapped up an appropriations bill today that includes $100 million to be divided between Denver and St. Paul, which is hosting the Republican convention.
The bill is on its way to the president’s desk, and because it includes funding for the Iraq war and military operations in Afghanistan, the president is expected to sign it quickly.
Colorado’s Diana DeGette, a Democrat and a lead supporter of the measure in the House, repeated Wednesday that, “It was really crucial for us to this money up front.”
Winning the funding didn’t come easy. An initial request in a House bill was trimmed down to $25 million, and two Senate measures were delayed for months while Democrats and Pres. Bush fought over Iraq war funding.
DeGette worked with a Minnesota counterpart to craft a letter to House leadership earlier this month stressing the immediate need for funds. She said she worried the money was going to be delayed for a future appropriation.
Both sides of the aisle worked to win the funding. Colorado’s Wayne Allard, a Republican who sits on the Senate appropriations committee, was described by several close to the effort as instrumental to the process.
“It’s been pretty frustrating,” Allard said. “This has been an insane budget process.”
Katherine Archuleta, the mayoral liaison for the convention, said she and St. Paul officials would meet in late January with the Department of Justice to work out a reimbursement process for the extensive security effort.
Chuck Plunkett: 303-954-1333 or cplunkett@denverpost.com
