cnn's homeland security correspondent jean meserve has the details on the potential problems groups with facing. >> reporter: it was five years ago this week the 9/11 commission issued the landmark report making specific recommendations on how to best prevent another terrorist attack. commission co-chair governor thomas kaine says only about 80% of them have been implemented. >> well, i'm worried that 20% of them also were among the 80%, the things that aren't fully done. >> kean and his 9/11 co-chair are among experts on the national security preparedness group, which is trying to close the remaining security gaps. one of the most glearing right here in washington. the group says it has observed that homeland security secretary janet nebras . >> she reports to 80 different committees. >> reporter: the political reality is this, no member of congress wants to give up power. politics has also hurt efforts to create more secure identity documents. the nation's governors, including then governor nepolitano rose in revolt. now congress is considering something called pass i.d., which is less

jeane meserve reports. >> reporter: a 47-year-old man died in this flint, michigan in april. the first firefighters onscene attempted a rescue, but because of recent cutbacks didn't immediately is a pumper truck to douse the flames. >> if weed that water, potentially we could have made it up the stairs on the first trip. >> reporter: last month in alameda, california a firefighter was injured by cutbacks slowed the response. officials in flint and alameda dispute that budget decisions had a significant impact on the tragic events be. the firefighters unions maintains all across the country they're playing russian roulette by cutting service. >> we're seeing firefighters furloughed, taking cuts in pay, cuts in benefits, stations are being closed, stations are being browned out. >> reporter: if there atlanta, georgia this firehouse is one of five that have been shutterrd. the firefighters union says the city has half the fire personnel it should. >> on any given day, we'll only have 140 firefighters on duty in the city of atlanta to protect the city with day-time population wit

jean meserve uncovers a startling example of broken government at an historic tourist attraction. >>> this hour, only on cnn, it's promoted as a healthy way to smoke, but officials now warn that electronic cigarettes are packed with toxic chemicals. our brian todd reveals why a puff on one of these is like inhaling anti-freeze. i'm wolf blitzer in cnn's command center for breaking news, politics, and extraordinary reports from around the world. you're in "the situation room." >>> desperate new measures to prevent health care reform from flat lining. president obama now forced to acknowledge that congress needs more time. the top senate democrat didn't give him much choice. the majority leader, harry reid, now says the august vote mr. obama had hoped for won't happen. >> i think that it's better to have a product that is one that's based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than trying to jam something through. >> i have no problem. if i think people are really working through these difficult issues, in making sure we get it right, but i don't want to delay just because of politics, an

jeanne meserve is watching this one closely. she's in raleigh this morning. jean, what a bizarre story. >> yeah, daniel boyd is a u.s. citizen, the season of a marine. but prosecutors say he was plotting to commit violent jihad overseas. amongst those he recruited, two of his sons. now the mother of those boys, daniel boyd's wife, sabrina, is offering explanations for the accusations being made by the government. >> reporter: daniel boyd fought in afghanistan in the early 1990s, but had settled in bucolic willow spring, north carolina. he and his two sons were among seven people arrested monday on terrorism charges. his wife, sabrina, tells cnn they are innocent. >> i know that my husband and my son are free of guilt and i'm hopeful the truth will come to mind. >> reporter: in court documents, the government says the group stock piled a cache of high-powered weapons. they were only responding to news reports that guns and ammunition were becoming scarce. >> we'll say we do own guns in our home as our constitutional right allows us. and i don't think there's a crim