http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/117873

Napolitano: U.S. stalls on Guard request
By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 02.28.2006

PHOENIX — Gov. Janet Napolitano said Monday that she's getting a bit of a run-around on her request that the federal government pay to station National Guard troops along the border.
Napolitano, in Washington for the National Governors Association meeting, said she met with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The governor last month specifically asked Rumsfeld to use a provision of federal law to pay the state to station Guard troops in Southern Arizona to help deter border crossings.
"I cannot report much progress," Napolitano said after the meeting.
"The Department of Defense is saying 'Go to the Department of Homeland Security,' " she said. "The Department of Homeland Security is saying 'Go to the Department of Defense.'"
In her January letter to Rumsfeld, Napolitano said Guard volunteers could work at border crossing points to assist with vehicle inspections and electronic identification checks. "This would free up Border Patrol officers to do other duties more directly related to enforcement," she wrote.
She also said Guard units could operate "roving patrols" on back roads, not only reporting suspicious activity but also as a highly visible deterrent.
Napolitano said Rumsfeld offered little in assurances.
"He's basically saying, 'If (the Department of) Homeland Security concurs with your request, I will consider it,'" she said.
"It's kind of a classic Washington response," the governor said.
"You've got a problem at the border? Go to this department. No, go to this department. No, go to this department," Napolitano complained. "I'm going to go to all departments until I get a satisfactory resolution here."
Napolitano also talked with Rumsfeld — and in a private meeting of governors with President Bush — about the larger concern all states have about proposed cuts in Guard strength.
The president's budget seeks to put the total number of National Guard troops under state control at 333,000. Congress wants 350,000.
And Napolitano said the governors also are concerned about equipment left in Iraq by activated Guard troops.
"We got verbal assurances that the cuts that were rumored won't happen and that equipment will be replaced and repaired," Napolitano said after her meeting with Rumsfeld. But the governor, noted that the president's "actual (budget) document doesn't show that."