Handouts For The Homeland

Rep. Cox Says Bulk Of $10B Not Being Spent To Make America Safer

(CBS)  Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, the former chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and one of Congress’ most powerful members, argues that you never know where terrorists are going to strike, and that small states deserve protection as much as larger ones.

"I don’t think you can say, 'Where’s the population? Look at where the problem is if terrorist want to strike and harm our economy,'" says Stevens.

"We just got back from Tiptonville, Tenn.,'" says Kroft. "I mean, it just really stretched the imagination to think [that terrorists are] under any circumstances ever gonna go to Tiptonville?"

"You don't know," says Stevens. "Now, where are the terrorists gonna strike? Just New York, and Washington, and you know, San Francisco? It's a nation and the threats are against assets that have a considerable impact on our national economy."

"Are you saying there's no pork here," asks Kroft.

"No," says Stevens.

"There is some pork," says Kroft.

"You know, when you get into spending the kind of money we're spending in homeland security, there's got to be some things that wound up by just being there because someone wanted it there, rather than someone needed it there," says Stevens.

But Stevens says there is no pork in the $30 million Alaska is getting in homeland security funds. He says it’s all needed to protect the oil pipeline, key military installations and in places like the North Pole. And Alaska, which is strategically located near the middle of the Richardson Highway, is in the middle of nowhere.

Of the $557,000 for rescue and communication equipment that they have received, Steven says: "Every state has to locate equipment. That's not for us. That's for people that will be using that highway in the event of disaster. And I think it's legitimate."

"We don't live in a world of limitless resources, and we have to pick. We have to choose," says Cox. "And we want to put those monies where they're most needed, where we can protect the most life."

So much homeland security money has been appropriated that some places are having trouble figuring hour how to spend it. Washington, D.C., which everyone agrees is a primary terrorist target, has received $145 million in homeland security money, according to the House Homeland Security Committee, but has spent less than 10 percent of it.