Political Motivation?

" Obama announced that huge 787. Billion dollar stimulus package. He said he was basically banning politicians from using earmarks to pay for their pet projects. 720 million dollars from that stimulus -- were spent on crossing the border crossings to upgrade the border crossings in this country. The projects were chosen from a list of priorities created by the Department of Homeland Security the Associated Press has been looking into -- they now have discovered -- actually low priority checkpoints in this country. We're chosen even though they were on the bottom of the list this is one of the prime examples that count is sleeping checkpoints along the Canadian border -- white tail Montana. Able get fifteen million dollars to build a new border stations this talent has a population. Of 71. And about three. The eight. They say that senator tester even boasted about the effort giving senator baucus credit for using his influence as the head of what he called quote the powerful Senate Finance Committee. On the phone -- now he's the former Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff mr. secretary thanks for being with us. I I just gonna throw up another example for viewers what the -- found this is an example from Laredo Texas. 55000 travelers there 4200 trucks -- rated among the highest priorities I think we have some pictures from Laredo. Yet this was passed over for stimulus money how does this happen."

" Well of course I -- around when they were doing -- stimulus. Packaged pretty -- no questions -- reader doesn't need a lot of investment in the border crossing. Sometimes that the question is is that. Construction ready to go literature they got older permits -- they got there environmental permits. I can do you actually Russian pressing national permits so it may be -- I don't know if it's true -- just wasn't -- positions get going in the next year to. That being said obviously you want it generally try to use our priority projects are the first ones to get the money be -- Frankly many people -- Russians have been waiting for years. To get to kind of assistance that -- in Q increased capacity which is not only good for the borders could be economies now."

" Like how much of a role does politics play in these kinds of cases I mean is it is this a clean process."

" Us whether prosecution is not a political process trips set your priorities simply needs time we've discussion. Both with the locals looking -- from Stamford Customs and Border Protection and we are facing as well -- Greatest it -- it it could be the greatest. We actually put together very very detailed plan which submitted to congress. I a year ago laid -- And I -- I know the agency likes to follow that so obviously when a politician. I gets involved and starts to push that is not I generally welcome. Occurrence."

" At least say that senator tester has said that the northern border really does get ignored and that's why it's justified this additional in additionally an additional investment in it. This was supposed to be more transparent this this stimulus money deputy commissions commissioner and customs said. You gotta have a certain level of trust here trust your government because there's really no way for the public to know exactly how this money is being spent you --"

" I'm I'm I'm not sure I would put it that way out I would say obviously there -- some -- confidential but I think you give the public a pretty good idea. Of the basic considerations are going to say -- list -- which have to do with how -- is the station. How bad how old technology. How much is the traffic increased what is the economic impact and I think that's pretty straightforward stuff."

" Is there a way though for us to note to let the public knowledge and should there be if there isn't."

" Well I think I think it certainly would help the department. The more they can make public speakers frankly that has to dispel the mystery. The more you keep quiet about -- we keep outside it that you it is speculated that something improper."

" Former Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff mr. Chertoff thanks for your comments could be -- Police in the Mexican border town of Tijuana say they have arrested six men for stealing pieces of the US border fence. Do you wanna police departments of the suspects were planning to sell the steal as scrap metal. Police said in a statement that the man might face federal charges because the fenced area is considered. Federal property."