The union representing Los Angeles city police officers today fought a proposed federal cut in benefits for the families of officers killed in the line of duty.

The federal budget proposal calls for a cut in the Public Safety Officers' Death Benefits Program from $110 million to $60 million, according to the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents the roughly 9,800 members of the LAPD. The program currently pays benefits of more than $300,000 to survivors of a safety officer killed in the line of duty.

"In 2009, the killing of police officers is 21 percent higher than in 2008," LAPPL President Paul Weber wrote in a letter to President Barack Obama designed to draw attention to the issue. "Are the families of police officers killed in the line of duty...lower on the priority list of this Administration than a corporate bailout?" Weber asked.

Data was not immediately available on how much of the $110 million allocation has been spent directly on survivor's benefits in prior years.