Holden- Washington security visit successful

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Some person-to-person communication Friday between Gov. Bob Holden and federal officials should help coordinate preparation against a potential biological terrorist attack, officials said.

Security was the main topic as Holden met in Washington with Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge and members of Missouri's congressional delegation.

"We had a very good meeting," Holden said in a telephone interview after meeting with Ridge. "I told him it was critical to have good communication and coordination from the state level to the local level. I got a sense that he supported that effort."

Holden, state security adviser Tim Daniel and Maureen Dempsey, director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, went to Washington hoping to open better lines of communication with the federal government.

There have been concerns by state officials including Holden that communication between federal agencies must be improved in order for states to be prepared for a potential biological attack.

"The concern is the coordination and communication for the sharing of information between different law enforcement and public health agencies," Holden said. "Historically, that hasn't been the case, including after the September 11 attacks."

Susan Neely, a spokeswoman for Ridge, said Missouri taken important steps in homeland security.

"The meeting was very productive," Neely said. "Ridge is in complete agreement that the national strategy has to begin at the local level."

Missouri spending

The Missouri government has spent more than $700,000 on security measures since the Sept. 11 attacks, despite a tight budget. And state budget officials said Friday in Jefferson City that the Sept. 11 attacks contributed to an even tighter budget, with a potential shortfall in state income tax collections of more than $100 million.

The Washington meeting came just days after some U.S. senators outlined a bill providing $3.2 billion to combat bioterrorism.

The money would go for stockpiling vaccines and antibiotics, increasing food inspections, funding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and helping state and local governments plan for bioterrorism through block grants and new equipment.

Holden also met privately with House Minority Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., who pledged his support for Missouri's efforts.

U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, who met briefly with Holden, said he supports the Senate bioterrorism proposal and also touted funding he sponsored the last couple of years for bioterrorism and health research at Saint Louis University.