BILL WOULD GIVE FEDERAL AID TO KENNEBUNKPORT

A US Senate subcommittee has approved legislation to provide $160,000 to the town of Kennebunkport (in the fiscal 1990 budget) to offset costs of providing security for President Bush at his seaside vacation home, Sens. William Cohen (R) and George Mitchell (D), both of Maine, said Wednesday. ``We believe that the protection of the president is a federal responsibility,'' the Maine senators said in a joint statement.

Kennebunkport officials said recently that the town can no longer afford the costs of providing police officers to assist in security arrangements during presidential visits.