Audit: TEXAS spent Homeland Security funds for LAWNMOWER DRAG RACES!

[Bluebear]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&u=/ap/20050108/ap_on_re_us/terrorism_spending_2&printer=1

AUSTIN, Texas - An audit of the state's spending of nearly $600 million in federal anti-terrorism funds found that some of the money was spent improperly, including to buy a trailer that was used to haul lawn mowers to "lawn mower drag races."

The state auditor's office pointed out several cases in which poor monitoring by the Texas Engineering Extension Service may have allowed abuse.

One county bought 18 radios and other communication equipment from a company owned by one of its county commissioners, according to the report released Thursday. Another jurisdiction used a trailer ostensibly bought as emergency equipment to haul lawn mowers to races, the report says.

State auditors have forwarded the case to their special investigation unit, which handles fraud, abuse and other criminal allegations.

[oldtime dfl_er]

1. "It's a f***ing candy store!"

-- Lee Atwater, on entering the WH for the first time.



www.cafepress.com/showtheworld

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. They hate us for our lawns. nt

[NMDemDist2]

3. that's nothing on Ridge and the senior management having a

"conference" in Wikiki last month

Dec. 17, 2004 — At the same time agents of the budget-strapped Department of Homeland Security worried about being able to afford gas for government cars, top department officials, including outgoing DHS Secretary Tom Ridge, could be found basking in the warm Hawaiian sun for a meeting they said was essential government business.

While officials reported a continuing freeze on hiring new agents and a halt to non-essential spending in chilly Washington, D.C., buffet lines, lavish luaus and a short walk to the beach awaited top officials at a sumptuous resort and spa on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu.

It was the setting for the second annual Asia-Pacific Homeland Security Summit and Exposition, with most of the cost paid for by corporations seeking government contracts. The rest of the travel expenses for the officials were picked up by the American taxpayers.

On the first day of the conference, ABC News cameras caught Ridge, along with several aides, relaxing by one of the five pools at the Honolulu resort. It was listed as "office time" on his official schedule.

Chuck Lewis, executive director of Center for Public Integrity, a government watchdog group, said homeland security has turned into a vast, wasteful pork barrel.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=340420&page=1

[acmavm]

4. I'm really getting to the point where I just wish we could give Texas

back to Mexico, with our condolences of course.

Sorry to all you Texas DUers, but that place is really stupid central and corrupt as hell. The open and rampant corruption of the republican party down there would do a third world dictatorship proud.

Texas DUers, I feel sorry for myself living in Nebraska until I think what you have to be going through.

[Liberal In Texas]

12. Hey Nebraska, come out of the cold down to

balmy Texas.
I lived in Omaha for years, got fed up with the weather and came here.
The thing is we need more northern libs like you to move in and turn this state around. There was a big influx in the '80's and it made a difference, but the tide has turned back to REDNECK.

Actually there are lefty havens here; Austin, Galveston, El Paso, and parts of Dallas and San Antonio.

[Solly Mack]

5. national security...the scam of a lifetime

[Swamp Rat]

6. I wish Texas State auditors would look into DeLay's campaign activity

[punpirate]

8. Really think you should amend the text...

... on the DeLay pic... "eat bugs... drink bug killer"

... since he actually did drink bug killer to prove that it was "safe" for humans.... :P

[BrklynLiberal]

10. ooooooooooooooweeeee..Great work on that picture!!! Actually makes him

look better than in reality.

[ClintonTyree]

7. If the United States needed an enema.................

Texas is where you'd stick the tube.

[punpirate]

9. You can even be more specific than that...

... North Dallas, maybe.... :)

[Liberal In Texas]

14. You're sure about that?

Not New York?
Frankly, I wouldn't live there if you paid me a 7 figure salary.

Sorry, just that we Texans know we have problems but no need to get nasty.

[Calanus]

11. Ahhhh... there is hope for humanity yet.

I would have loved to have been there.

[Telly Savalas]

13. Hell yeah.

If we're going to waste taxpayer's dollars, at least do it with style. Furthermore, unlike that trainwreck in Iraq, nobody gets hurt or killed at a lawnmower drag race.

[Bouncy Ball]

15. I wonder if the state auditor's office

is within or under the control of the state comptroller's office. That would be Carole Keyton Strayhorn Ryder or whatever the hell her married name is NOW. She's a repuke who wants to run against Gov. Perry in 2006 and is busy digging up as much dirt as she can.