WASHINGTON – Sens. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) and Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) are urging fellow senators to set aside $100 million for security costs at the 2016 Democratic and Republican national conventions in Philadelphia and Cleveland, up from the $20 million approved in a House-passed spending bill.
The two Democrats made their plea in a letter to the chair and vice chair of the Senate subcommittee that oversees security spending, saying similar amounts -- $50 million per host city – have been provided for security ever since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
"The presidential nomination conventions are large-scale, complex, and high-profile events that can pose significant security challenges," the two senators wrote. The "extraordinary measures" required "to ensure a safe and secure environment exceed annual city resources."
The two sent their letter on Tuesday.
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