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Report: Calif. 9/11 fund raided to fill state budget gaps

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    Small fraction of $15M raised went to memorial scholarships

  • Duration 5:15
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Major controversy today in California where money meant for the children of 9/11 victims.

Has reportedly been used instead to close that State's significant budget gaps.

The Associated Press has released an exclusive report.

That says both former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger a Republican and current governor Jerry Brown a Democrat tried to patch a few fiscal holes.

By reading a fun that was meant to help anti terrorism efforts and to -- -- scholarship program for those children.

The money's generated by special we will never forget license plate.

The scholarship program -- clothes back in 2005 but the state still advertises that the plates help the children how.

Now governor Jerry Brown is calling for an audits of that program in hopes of finding out why of the fifteen million dollars collected in the fund.

Just over 21000.

Dollars.

Has reportedly reached those families.

Joining me now -- O'Connor.

He has lost family members in two different terrorist attacks including 9/11.

He also testified before the senate judiciary committee on air -- nomination for attorney general -- thank you very much for being here with us here reaction to this story.

Well I think it's not actually to the -- not a surprise.

We've seen over the years the governments have used terrorism as a tool.

As a political tool and in this case -- free trade the if the reports are correct if you -- those people in California who thought they were contributing.

Part of something better trying to help those people in new York and the people of California who were who were killed on 9/11 and really being part of -- solution.

When they're being part treated like the furniture is matter of fact I think there's been as much money on furniture as they did on the scholarships for these kids.

They're talking about -- for the AP reports that 40% of the fifteen million has funded anti terror training programs.

But three million was rated by Governor Brown.

And by Governor Schwarzenegger to cover the State's budget deficit three million dollars that was supposed to go.

And help children of 9/11 that nice and anti terror training programs has now instead gone because they've they pay their unions a lot of money they don't pay their bills on time.

They do all sorts of things that they shouldn't do.

And now the people who are trying to help.

Family members of victims.

My left told the back.

You have people who just trying to be part of what's good in America and try to contribute trying to be with the try to be with the people who were killed on 9/11.

And and this is way they're treated the government is they're taking their money they're spending it for the -- good.

There they are really treating the the people like a tool they -- terrorism as a tool before.

This a tool for them to get more money and spend it on on their own.

Goals as opposed to the goals that they spelled out for the kids.

If a private industry did that they'd be investigated and probably brought up and charged -- you.

Odd how the money's been used that's been contributed to all special interest license plates and they point out everyone who applied for one of these scholarships did get.

Even though three million of the account was rated according to be Associated Press there wasn't in denial about it written statement we got.

Yeah I find it hard to know how he would know that they all got it when he hasn't on the audio and secondly.

Did you do not -- have to get caught.

You know if that was like -- -- if this is a private industry.

You wouldn't have that opportunity ever so far away from -- is hard for me to believe that this would happen in 20022003.

We got so far away from 9/11 now that people are forgetting.

What the children whose pockets they just.

-- their hands into.

Have gone through it what -- allies -- I think so I think with looted from from the kids and you know their slogan was -- will never forget.

But they for the irony -- -- -- think about that so you have these kids who really put their trust in.

In in Sacramento -- to do the right thing people putting in the money for them.

And and somehow the government of California.

If the reports are true.

Feels that it's their privilege our ability to take what was promised to somebody else.

It it really makes you wonder about -- run and you know there is a government of the people or is it the opposite opposite way does it make you angry.

Depressed.

It helpless what does it make you well I think -- features another now and in what's gone on it over the years where.

The you know the people have lost there there say their power.

They've been sort of treated.

Like they're the subjects of places like Sacramento were cooler Albany or Washington DC.

And it you know I think it's we've seen this kind of trend continue I mean I personally saw it when.

The terrorists who killed my father.

We'll -- -- granted clemency.

By and by a President Clinton was put purely political move and it was Clinton using terrorism as a tool.

And we've seen it again now so you know you just keep seeing these trends -- angry.

You -- it.

It always wears you down but you know my cameo was has fought back and I think that the people should stand up and say that this is wrong -- thank you very much pleasure --

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