Senator Michael Balboni, chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, renewed his call for Congress to adopt a "risk-based" funding formula for dolling out homeland security dollars to New York and all states. For the past two years, Senator Balboni has lobbied Congress to change the funding formula by allocating federal funds based on risk of terrorist attack, rather than guaranteed funding amounts to every state.

"Considering the fact that New York State has a large number of high-risk targets and New York City remains at the top of the list of potential terrorist threats, it is vital that we receive the resources needed to prevent, prepare for and respond to terrorism," Senator Balboni said.

He first called for this vital shift in the way the federal government doles out anti-terror funds in a 2004 report, New York After September 11, Shaken, But Not Stirred.* The report is based on expert testimony from state homeland security leaders and explains that federal anti-terror funding is based on population, rather an objective assessment of relative risks, producing skewed outcomes. The formula-based funding results in lightly populated states like Wyoming receiving $38.31 per capita of federal homeland security funding, while New York only receiving $5.47 per person.

Rep. Peter King, chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, has also been a strong advocate of changing to a risk-based anti-terror funding system.

* The report can be accessed at www.senatorbalboni.com.