Handouts For The Homeland

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

(CBS)  "Anybody could just spend money. We want to spend it wisely," says Washington Mayor Anthony Williams. He says a lot of the money has gone into a new emergency operations center, equipped with the latest computers, wide-screen TVs and 150 cameras that monitor different locations throughout the city.

But some other purchases are questionable, like leather jackets for the metropolitan police force. "A uniform and equipment as part of response and preparedness, I think, is certainly justifiable," says Williams.

What does it have to do with homeland security? "Well, I think protective equipment clearly ought to be part of funding for a homeland security strategy," says Williams.

"Another item: $100,000 to send sanitation workers to a Dale Carnegie course that has nothing to do with emergency preparedness," says Kroft. "What was that about?"

"I'd have to look into that," says Williams. "But by and large, I think the money we're spending is part of a plan."

Another example includes $300,000 for a computerized car towing service, which Williams says is "absolutely a part of homeland security."

"You know how? Now you are sitting you just came in here, looking at how a computerized towing service has anything to do with homeland security," says Williams. "Part of an orderly evacuation and mobility for people is clearing the roadways."

But if there is a terrorist attack, is it important to tow cars? "Absolutely," says Williams.

Plus, $100,000 went to the summer jobs program, some of which went to developing a rap song on emergency preparedness. "A big, big part of marketing and outreach to kids is through, you know, and I'm not an expert on rap, you can see that, but is using the rap idiom," says Williams.

"Do you know the rap lyrics?" asks Kroft.

"You got me on the spot. No, I don't know the raps lyrics, but I heard of that example," says Williams. "So here I am on national TV defending rap and homeland security. I don't, you know."

Mayor Williams not only has $130 million left to spend, he's about to get $96 million more.

In Tiptonville, Tenn., Police Chief Norman Rhodes is looking forward to the next windfall. "Well, if it's out there, we're gonna try to harvest it. I'll tell you that," says Rhodes. "The federal government's putting it out and we're gonna apply for it, and get it, and try to get the equipment it takes to protect our citizens. This is our home."

Congress is about to begin deliberations on whether or not to change the way homeland security funds are being used and distributed.

Since this interview, 60 Minutes has heard from the mayor's office in Washington, D.C., about the money spent on the Dale Carnegie course for sanitation workers. The purpose, they told us, was to help the sanitation workers develop the necessary skills to deal with panicky customers in the aftermath of a disaster.