Text 923, 70 rader
Skriven 2006-06-06 19:11:00 av ROSS SAUER (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av JOHN MASSEY
Ärende: Your tax money at work
==============================
JOHN MASSEY said to ALL ,

JM>New York politicians allowed up to one-third of the $20 billion in
JM>federal aid awarded to the city in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks
JM>to be squandered right under their noses, an analysis by the New York
JM>Daily News found last December.

JM>But that hasn't stopped some of the same politicians from complaining
JM>all weekend about a mere $80 million cut in New York City's federal
JM>anti-terrorism budget.

JM>Senators Hillary Clinton, Charles Schumer and Rep. Peter King say
JM>they're outraged over the new cuts, with Clinton and King teaming up
JM>to launch a post-card writing campaign against the Department of
JM>Homeland Security. The bipartisan duo sounded a lot less angry six
JM>months ago, when the News uncovered evidence that billions in 9/11
JM>cash had been misspent, gone unaccounted for and, in at least one
JM>case, was awarded to the Mafia.

JM>"I pledge to do whatever has to be done to find out what happened and
JM>why," an uncharacteristically meek-sounding King said at the time.

JM>Mrs. Clinton sounded similarly unruffled, offering only: "I think we
JM>need to pursue some of the leads . . . to make sure every penny is
JM>properly used."

JM>The News study found that:

JM>.. Up to one-third of the $21.4 billion in 9/11 cash awarded to New
JM>York by the White House had been earmarked for major transportation
JM>projects that had no connection to the devastation caused on 9/11.

JM>.. $150,000 was awarded to a securities firm that had gone out of
JM>business before the 9/11 attacks - plus millions more from the fund
JM>was earmarked for formerly self-supporting projects.

JM>.. $10 million in 9/11 cash was embezzled by a senior member of the
JM>New York medical examiners office.

JM>.. A 9/11 "clean air program" ended up giving away 118,000 air
JM>conditioners, when its original budget covered only 5,000 units.
JM>Total cost overrun - $115 million.

JM>.. An "associate" of the Luchese crime family allegedly got a piece
JM>of the 9/11 pie, dividing up anticipated reconstruction contracts
JM>with other New York City crime families. One mobbed-up 9/11 worker
JM>was listed as a $58,000 per year employee - even though he was in
JM>jail at the time.

JM>.. A whopping $154 million in grants and tax exempt Liberty Bonds was
JM>awarded to a single business - the Bank of New York. That small piece
JM>of the 9/11 jackpot represents nearly twice the amount of cuts in New
JM>York City's federal anti-terrorism budget.

JM>Perhaps Mrs. Clinton can take some time away from her efforts to
JM>browbeat the DHS into restoring the $80 million in anti-terror cuts -
JM>and give New Yorkers an update on what happened to the billions in
JM>9/11 aid that was squandered on her watch.

Two questions:

1. Where did you get this from?

2. Who is/was in charge of labeling out all this money?

From Archae's Roost, Sheboygan, WI

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