BP oil spill relief funds buys millions in gear

An AP investigation reveals that the millions of dollars given to coastal towns affected by the massive oil spill last year is not being used for cleanup purposes. While the crisis was still unfolding, BP "poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Gulf Coast communities with few strings attached." AP reporters found that a small Mississippi town used the funds to purchase Tasers for reserve police officers. Biloxi, Miss., officials "bought a dozen SUVS," and a "county in Florida spent $560,000 on rock concerts" meant to promote "oil-free beaches." Each community explained that the purchases were necessary "to deal at least indirectly with the spill."