In the years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Texas has received at least $1.7 billion in federal Homeland Security grants, and spent much of the money to strengthen law-enforcement communications and border security.
But a Fort Worth Star-Telegram examination of thousands of purchases also found a a $21 fish tank in Seguin, a $24,000 latrine on wheels in Fort Worth, and a real pork project-a hog catcher in Liberty County.
Homeland Security paid for body bags, garbage bags and Ziploc bags.
If taxpayers had a say, they might have gone along with some purchases, such as $24,012 in body armor for the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority. But what about the two 2011 Camaros, each $30,884, used in Kleberg County border enforcement? ...
...Spot checks by the inspector general revealed embarrassing lapses: A $250,000 first-responder trailer had been parked since its purchase without much use. Bolt cutters had to be used to open another trailer because keys couldn't be found. Once inspectors broke in, they found two new mobile generators with flat tires. Elsewhere, a SWAT team's body armor had expired in 2003, according to the February report. ...McClatchy
The list goes on -- to an almost comical length. It's kind of like the Pentagon and those toilet seats.
