Hijacking Anti-Terrorism Money. Estes Park, Colorado’s fire department got almost $100,000 in your tax money to prepare for homeland security. They spent it on a private gym for 37 volunteer firefighters. It’s part of $122 million in federal help for homeland security. But they’re keeping secret where the money went. KUSA in Denver tried to find out. So did the Denver Post. Around the country, local governments have been spending your federal tax dollars on thing like traffic cones, janitor bills, and a clock with a hidden camera for a bureaucrat’s office. (Al’s Morning Meeting)
Putting More Cops on the Streets...of Baghdad. Meanwhile, another state reports they’re shorthanded. Mississippi has lost 80 state troopers to National Guard and Reserve call ups. That’s leaving fewer people at home to be first responders in the event of a terrorist attack. Why would terrorists bother with Mississippi? Aside from major ports, it is home to the world’s largest nuclear plant.
Which Makes This Make Sense. Government regulators will no longer let you know when a nuclear plant experiences a safety lapse. They claim it would give useful information to terrorists. Of course, it was giving useful information to people who live near the plants. Somewhere, Homer Simpson is saying, “woo-hoo!”
If We Don’t Fix This, The Japanese Beetles Have Already Won. In addition to securing our borders from terrorists, the Homeland Security Department also guards us against bugs sneaking into the The Homeland Security Department is letting a lot more bugs sneak into the country since taking over that job from the Agriculture Department. The Homeland Security folks say they need 500 more inspectors to do the job right. (FOX News)
Pack Light. GOP Convention delegates have gotten a list of banned items for their get-together in New York City. Baby strollers and umbrellas pose a security threat. Baby strollers? Isn't this supposed to be the 'family values' party? (NYT)
Who’s Watching Out for the Watchdogs? Marc Nichols was the Inspector General for the Government Printing Office. An Inspector General is supposed to look for waste, fraud, and abuse in government agencies. Nichols claims he was fired for finding those things at the Printing Office. The head of the agency can fire Igs. Rep Jim Cooper (D-TN) has a bill before Congress that would guarantee Inspectors General a fixed seven-year term to fix problems. (WashPost)
It Ain't Free Speech if I Have to Pay for It on My Phone Bill. Taking a break from talking tough about talking dirty on radio and TV, the FCC moves to block something far more offensive to far more people – SPAM. The FCC has plans to ban it from cell phones and PDAs. (WashPost)
