I have alot of mixed feelings about this issue, but I think one thing could possibly occur: If people and organizations don't step up to the plate and do something to alleviate the OVERALL cost, it is real possible it will fall into the federal government's lap to handle, and most people know the consequences of that and don't want it.

The Mt. Hood SAR effort used an AC-130. Sure it helped with the safety of the SAR people as well as looking for the missing climbers. They run $190 million in 2001 dollars apiece, and are the most complex aircraft weapon system in the world with 609,000 lines of software code. They are in high demand worldwide by U.S. ground commanders for aerial support in the GWOT. There are only about 25 of them existing in service after 4 new-builds this year. That could have raised the eyebrows of number-crunchers holding elected office. There is just no way to insure against something like that.

The more incidents that happen like the Mt. Hood SAR operation, the more questions that will be asked about who is footing the biggest bill in the end. Then it might just be a matter of time if individual states do not come up with sufficient ways to deal with it before the feds step in.