Mayors Seek Money for Homeland Security

Frustrated and angry over delays, a coalition of the nation's mayors asked federal officials to bypass state governments and give them the money they need to beef up homeland security.

"I'm not asking for a handout, I'm asking for a partnership," Louisville, Ky., Mayor Jerry Abramson told Undersecretary of Homeland Security Michael Brown at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Denver.

Brown said Congress recently ordered 80% of the funding for homeland security projects to go to "first responders" in cities and counties, and limited to 20% the amount state governments can keep.