WASHINGTON – A House subcommittee chairman has questioned whether taxpayers are getting their money’s worth in border protection as people continue breaking through barriers to enter the United States illegally.

At a hearing Tuesday on funding for border security, Rep. David Price, D-N.C., challenged the Homeland Security Department to explain why it has effective control of only 1 percent of the country’s 4,000 mile border with Canada.

Of the $3.6 billion Congress has allocated for border security, $2 billion has been spent building 610 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.

House subcommittees are considering the agency’s requests for funding to boost security along the U.S. borders and to help curb Mexican drug violence.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Perdue Friday made an unannounced visit to the JobLink Career Center at the Raleigh Employment Security Commission office on Carl Sandburg Court. During her hour-long visit, she spoke to the Center’s director and employees, toured the facility and asked questions of the citizens there who were receiving services.

A crowded parking lot and full waiting room greeted the governor as she entered the facility around 2:30. Several citizens offered their personal stories in private sessions with Gov. Perdue.

“Today I heard the real stories behind the numbers – I met people who had lost jobs due to this troubled economy, of course, but I also saw so much more,” Gov. Perdue said. “I met someone who holds a PhD but can’t find a job. I talked to job seekers who are former military and are looking for a career outside the armed forces. I saw a woman who had never held a job before but today is looking for a new path. These are real people we must work for, not just statistics. I want every single ESC office in North Carolina to be operating as efficiently and effectively as possible to best serve these citizens.”

Gov. Perdue specifically looked for indications that the Career Center was providing the types of services needed by today’s changing group of unemployed citizens. She focused on the hours the Center is open, how many staff and partner agencies are available and what kinds of diverse services are provided, and whether the Center has been able to change to meet growing demand.

WASHINGTON-Police in riot gear. Military troops patrolling the nation’s capital. Bridges from Virginia into Washington, D.C., closed to public traffic.

The swearing in of President-elect Barack Obama Jan. 20 — the first administration change since Sept. 11, 2001 – will feature unprecedented security measures to manage a crowd that could include 2 million people.

Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, aided by 96 departments nationwide, will double its force from 4,000 to 8,000 officers for the inauguration – 1,000 more than were on hand in 2004. And the city has blocked off 3.5 square miles downtown for Inauguration Day, a larger area than in the past.

More than 100 Virginia State Police officers will be in the capital and others will step up patrols in Northern Virginia.

“We always plan for the worst and hope for the best,” said Corinne Geller, spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police. “It’s always Plan A, Plan B, Plan C. … A good day in Northern Virginia and you have gridlock.”

With the exception of buses, limos and emergency vehicles, traffic will not be permitted on two of the biggest arteries into Washington – Interstate 395 North and Interstate 66 East. The roads will be closed at Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway. Bridges across the Potomac River into Washington will also be blocked off, with some exceptions for pedestrians, mass transit, buses and emergency vehicles.

Because of the large crowd of dignitaries expected to watch the inauguration of the country’s first African-American president, the Department of Homeland Security has designated the inauguration a “National Special Security Event.”

There have been no credible terrorist threats against this inauguration, officials said.

The security measures will prevent easy movement in town. Police advise visitors to arrive by train – Amtrak, Virginia Railway Express or Metro, the Washington subway system. A 100-block area surrounding Pennsylvania Avenue will be closed to cars.

Bikes will be prohibited on Metro, though riders can use bike valet lots at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial or on 16th Street between K and I Street Northwest.

Those walking to the event should brace for a long day of standing. Those who cannot stand for six hours should consider skipping the event, security officials said.

Expect up to a three-hour wait to get through security checkpoints before Obama’s noontime oath and address, though arrangements have been made to assist the disabled, officials said.

“People who go to large sporting events, large political events, certainly this will not be anything new,” said David Heyman, director of the Homeland Security program at the Center for Strategic International Studies. “Except for the volume of people, which will be unprecedented, it’s perhaps not unlike going to the airport and going through security.”

Thirteen entry points to the secure area around the National Mall will have airport-style security screening gates.

An estimated 13,000 National Guardsmen are expected to be on the National Mall for Inauguration Day. But even with all the added security measures, watchful civilians could play the most important role in preventing a terrorist act, security analysts said.

“If they see something suspicious, there will be police every 10 feet on the street. They should just let somebody know,” Heyman said.

What you need to know about inauguration security:

Prohibited Items:
Firearms and ammunition, real or fake
Explosives, including fireworks
Knives, blades, or sharp objects of any length
Mace and/or pepper spray
Sticks or poles
Hand tools, such as a “Leatherman”
Packages
Backpacks
Bicycles
Bags and purses larger than 8 inches by 6 inches by 4 inches
Duffel bags
Suitcases
Thermoses
Glass containers
Coolers
Strollers
Umbrellas
Laser pointers
Signs, posters
Tents or structures of any kind
Animals other than service animals
Alcoholic beverages

Can I bring a camera or cell phone?
Yes. Cell phone lines are expected to be jammed that day. Security officials recommend communicating by text messages, which use less bandwidth and are more likely to go through than phone calls. Camera bags and tripods are prohibited.

Can I bring water or food?
Yes, but think small, like granola bars and a plastic bottle of water that can fit in clothing pockets or small purses. No thermoses, glass containers, or grocery bags of food will be allowed. No food or drinks will be sold inside the security checkpoints.

Should I do anything to prepare for my personal security?
Yes. Prepare a security plan for your family. Designate a meeting place, like your hotel. If separated, children should look for a police officer and know a family member’s phone number. Also designate a contact back home for your group to check in with in case of emergency.

Can I bring a sign?
No signs are allowed at the swearing in ceremony. Signs are allowed along the parade route, but must be made of cardboard, poster board or cloth and no larger than 3 feet by 20 feet and one-quarter inch thick. No wood, metal or other supports to prop up the sign are allowed.

If I have something taken away can I get it back?
No. Seized items will not be returned.

I have a disability and can’t wait in line. Where can I go?
Those with disabilities and tickets to the inauguration should go to the intersection of North Capitol Street and E Street or to the intersection of South Capitol and E Street. U.S. Capitol Police will shuttle passengers on golf carts from those locations to one of the security checkpoints.

For more information, including maps: http://www.gettingthere.dc.gov

CARLISLE, Pa. – President George W. Bush says that while there has been lots of debate about his policies, there can be no argument that America has been kept safe since the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

In a speech at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., Bush said Wednesday that after the attacks, he set up an elaborate plan to reorganize the governmental apparatus to confront such threats. He said the United States has worked at the same time to nurture alternatives to hateful regimes.

The speech was part of what amounts to a presidential legacy tour, with Bush using his bully pulpit he still has to frame how the country will judge his service. His final day in office will be Jan. 20, when Barack Obama will be sworn in as president.

RALEIGH, N.C.  – North Carolina Rep. David Price is leading a delegation of House members to Southeast Asia to see the Department of Homeland Security’s work in the region.

The Democratic lawmaker is chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. Price’s trip will help lawmakers understand Homeland Security’s work with foreign governments. Homeland Security works to enhance the safety of cargo bound to the United States, cooperates on anti-terrorism efforts and works on issues related to international adoptions.

Price and five other lawmakers will make stops in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. They left Saturday and will return Sunday.

It’s Washington’s favorite parlor game during a presidential transition: trying to figure out who’ll land a top spot in the new administration. President-elect Barack Obama is weighing an array of Washington insiders and outsiders, including some Republicans, for Cabinet and other top positions, according to Democratic officials.

Just like the stock market, names rise and fall weekly, some zooming to the top, others dropping out of contention. Hillary Rodham Clinton suddenly is considered the top prospect for secretary of state, although other names remain in the mix. It looks like Eric Holder, former deputy attorney general, is on track to become attorney general.

Some of those who are the subject of speculation already have been chosen by Obama to serve as part of his transition team. For example, former Sen. Tom Daschle was picked Wednesday to lead Obama’s working group on health care, the same day word surfaced that he’s accepted Obama’s offer to serve as secretary of health and human services.

Some names being floated are surprising, such as former Bush Secretary of State Colin Powell for education secretary. Others are high-profile governors or members of Congress. Many are also little known to the general public – and may remain so.

—

DEFENSE SECRETARY

Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., critic of Iraq war, retiring from Senate.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., member of Senate Armed Services Committee.

—

TREASURY SECRETARY

Timothy Geithner, president of Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker.

Lawrence Summers, former treasury secretary and one-time Harvard University president.

—

SECRETARY OF STATE

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-NY, former first lady and one-time rival of Obama’s for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., former U.N. ambassador and energy secretary.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., 2004 presidential nominee.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., critic of Iraq war, retiring from Senate.

Richard Holbrooke, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

—

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Eric Holder, former deputy attorney general.

—

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

—

HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

—

CIA DIRECTOR

John Brennan, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center

—

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR

Tim Roemer, former Indiana congressman and member of the 9/11 commission.

Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., chairwoman of House Homeland Security intelligence subcommittee.

Jami Miscik, former head of CIA’s analytical operations.

—

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER

James B. Steinberg, former deputy national security adviser.

Susan Rice, former assistant secretary of state for African affairs.

—

ENERGY SECRETARY

Dan Reicher, director of climate change and energy initiatives at Google, former assistant energy secretary in charge of efficiency and renewable energy programs in the Clinton administration.

Former Rep. Philip Sharp, D-Ind., president of Resources for the Future think tank.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

—

INTERIOR SECRETARY

Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber.

Former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles.

Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., former executive director of Colorado Natural Resources Department.

—

EPA ADMINISTRATOR

Lisa P. Jackson, commissioner of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Mary Nichols, head of California Air Resources Board.

Kathleen McGinty, former secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

—

HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C.

Renee Glover, head of Atlanta’s housing authority

Nicholas Retsinas, director of Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies

Shaun Donovan, commissioner of New York City’s housing department.

—

LABOR SECRETARY

Ed McElroy, former president of the American Federation of Teachers

Former Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri

Linda Chavez-Thompson, former AFL-CIO vice president

Former Rep. David Bonior, member of Obama’s Transition Economic Advisory Board.

Maria Echaveste, former Clinton White House adviser.

—

COMMERCE SECRETARY

Laura D’Andrea Tyson, former chair of White House Council of Economic Advisers under President Clinton.

—

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DIRECTOR

Peter Orszag, director of Congressional Budget Office.

—

EDUCATION SECRETARY

Colin Powell, former secretary of state, former chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Arne Duncan, chief executive officer of Chicago public schools.

Inez Tenenbaum, former South Carolina schools superintendent.

Linda Darling-Hammond, education professor at Stanford University.

—

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY

Jane Garvey, former head of Federal Aviation Administration.

Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of House Transportation Committee.

Mortimer Downey, former deputy transportation secretary.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., member of the House Transportation Committee.

—

AGRICULTURE SECRETARY

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Tom Buis, president of National Farmers Union.

Former Rep. Charles Stenholm, D-Texas.

John W. Boyd Jr. of Virginia, president of National Black Farmers Association.

—

VETERANS AFFAIRS

Tammy Duckworth, a disabled Iraq war veteran and Illinois veterans affairs director.

Former Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia, a Vietnam veteran who had three limbs amputated after a grenade blast.

Current VA Secretary James Peake.

RICHMOND, Va. – Democrat Barack Obama convened a panel of foreign policy and military luminaries Wednesday to discuss “urgent issues” facing the country from abroad, an attempt to inoculate himself against the renewed charge that he is too untested for the White House.

Republican John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin have seized on comments from Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden that Obama would face a “generated crisis” within six months of becoming president because adversaries across the world would want to test his mettle.

McCain has said the statement from Obama’s own running mate illustrates the danger of electing Obama. Biden, however, reached a different conclusion: He said Obama would fare well in such tests because he’s “got steel in his spine.”

Also, Obama was given a huge boost on the foreign policy front over the weekend when longtime Republican Colin Powell, formersecretary of state under President Bush, endorsed him. Powell’s backing helps Obama undercut McCain’s perceived dominance on foreign policy issues.

Still, the Obama campaign showed enough nervousness about the power of the topic to alter the race that it scheduled the meeting at a grand, historic Richmond hotel, and made sure Biden himself participated by phone from Colorado. Sitting around the room with Obama were a slew of retired generals and foreign policy mavens from Capitol Hill and the diplomatic world. Most have functioned,
either formally or informally, as advisers to campaign.

Obama said that he didn’t want the financial crisis in America, even though it has gone global, to overshadow the many serious foreign policy problems that continue unchecked, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the need to battle terrorism and the rising influence of China.

“The world has apparently not decided to take a pause while we campaign,” Obama said as the group sat down to meet for about an hour. “We didn’t want to lose sight of the fact that we still have some urgent issues that need to be dealt with.”

With less than two weeks to Election Day, both sides are nervous about what surprises could spring up to affect the race. Most polls show Obama doing well in battleground states and with varying sizes of leads nationally. Both the campaigns are well aware that the frantic final days of a presidential race are vulnerable to the introduction of game-changers.

Obama is spending all week bouncing from one patch of Republican turf to another, arriving in Virginia Tuesday night after spending two days in Florida. Both states voted for Bush in 2004, as did Indiana, where Obama goes Thursday, and Nevada, where he campaigns on Saturday.

In recent days, the tattered economy and the public’s perception that Democratic candidates are the better choice to handle it have boosted Obama’s campaign. He has focused almost exclusively on the issue, criticizing McCain for offering little more than “willful ignorance, wishful thinking, outdated ideology” to an economy in crisis.

He planned to continue that in other events Wednesday, rallies in Richmond and in Leesburg, Va.