Bill Bennett: “First, Federal spending for activities directly associated with the games is entirely appropriate when it is within…”

“First, Federal spending for activities directly associated with the games is entirely appropriate when it is within traditional areas of public responsibility. Example: Two-thirds of the costs are for public safety activities, such as providing counterterrorism support. Other areas where the Government is involved include visas, customs, transportation to the public, and weather information infrastructure-- all traditional governmental responsibilities. The statement says the Olympic games are essentially a mission of peace entirely consistent with the objectives of our country and recognizing that the Government spends billions of dollars to maintain wartime capability, it is entirely appropriate to invest several hundred million to promote peace.”