HOUSE DROPS HOMELAND SECURITY FILM JOB.

Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Congress moved Tuesday to leave the $100,000-a-year role of the Homeland Security Department's Hollywood liaison on the cutting-room floor.

On a unanimous voice vote, the House passed a measure sponsored by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., that would eliminate the entertainment industry outreach position and divert the money to local police and fire departments.

Noting that the money the Homeland Security Department spends on a single expert to review movie scripts could buy 165 bullet-resistant vests or 716 escape hoods, Musgrave said, ``I would have a very difficult time explaining to my constituents how we could use $100,000 in this manner.''

The position is currently held by Bobbie Faye Ferguson, who performed a similar job at NASA for seven years. In the 1980s, she played some small roles on TV's ``Dukes of Hazzard,'' ``What's Happening Now'' and ``Remington Steele.''

Homeland Security spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said the job largely involves ensuring that the agency is portrayed accurately in films and on TV.

``There is clearly an accelerated interest in Homeland Security issues by the media,'' he said. ``We believe this is a function that is necessary within the department, as it is within a number of federal agencies.''

The FBI has six people who assist producers and screenwriters under a unit it calls ``Fugitive Publicity.''

Acting unit chief Ernie Porter said the division, which is split between California and Washington, has been in existence since the 1950s. The unit is kept busy, he said, with domestic and international requests for everything from arrest-rate statistics to script reviews so directors can determine whether a scenario is being portrayed realistically.

``We can fully justify our staff levels here,'' Porter said. ``I can guarantee you we work long, active days.''

An aide to Musgrave declined to say whether she also opposed similar Hollywood liaison jobs at the FBI or Pentagon, saying she intends to examine them.

Motion Picture Association of America spokesman John Feehery said the people who hold those jobs help studios create more realistic depictions of government agencies, and by extension help educate the public.

``It's worked well for the entertainment industry, and it's worked well for the government,'' he said. ``There's bigger fish to fry when it comes to cutting spending.''

Meanwhile, Southern California lawmakers from both parties stood behind the plan to cut the job.

``When has Hollywood ever been concerned about homeland security? They're concerned about making movies,'' said Rep. Gary Miller, R-Brea, adding that he found the position ``ridiculous.''

Lisa Friedman, [phone]

lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com