Politics, Strange Bedfellows
Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) have introduced a bill that would create the position of a chief financial officer to oversee the federal funds going to Katrina reconstruction.
Obama is the Great Black Hope, and Coburn is the avowed homophobe nutjob who got elected by screaming about lesbianism in the public schools. What has these two very different Senators working together on the same issue?
Why, it's the $1.5 billion in Katrina reconstruction contracts that have been literally given away to Bush Administration cronies like Halliburton, Bechtel and the Shaw Group. More than 80 percent of these contracts were no-bid (given away). Homeland Security Inspector General Richard Skinner has voiced his apprehension about this, to no avail.
Halliburton, in case you've forgotten, is presently under investigation for the work it has done - or rather not done - in Iraq. The company is unable to account for more than $100 million that the Administration has paid out to it. In February, 2004, Halliburton was forced to repay the Pentagon $27.4 million for overcharges - they billed for 42,000 meals per day served to the troops but only served 14,000. In December, 2003, the Pentagon determined that Halliburton had overcharged by $61 million for importing gasoline from Kuwait to Iraq. The list goes on...
Also, in case you've forgotten, Dick Cheney continues to recieve a $150,000/year from Halliburton. He also has 433,000 stock options. The company's stock has more than tripled in the past three years.
Yes, Katrina is just another opportunity for cronyism. What did you expect with Karl Rove in charge of reconstruction?
Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) have introduced a bill that would create the position of a chief financial officer to oversee the federal funds going to Katrina reconstruction.
Obama is the Great Black Hope, and Coburn is the avowed homophobe nutjob who got elected by screaming about lesbianism in the public schools. What has these two very different Senators working together on the same issue?
Why, it's the $1.5 billion in Katrina reconstruction contracts that have been literally given away to Bush Administration cronies like Halliburton, Bechtel and the Shaw Group. More than 80 percent of these contracts were no-bid (given away). Homeland Security Inspector General Richard Skinner has voiced his apprehension about this, to no avail.
Halliburton, in case you've forgotten, is presently under investigation for the work it has done - or rather not done - in Iraq. The company is unable to account for more than $100 million that the Administration has paid out to it. In February, 2004, Halliburton was forced to repay the Pentagon $27.4 million for overcharges - they billed for 42,000 meals per day served to the troops but only served 14,000. In December, 2003, the Pentagon determined that Halliburton had overcharged by $61 million for importing gasoline from Kuwait to Iraq. The list goes on...
Also, in case you've forgotten, Dick Cheney continues to recieve a $150,000/year from Halliburton. He also has 433,000 stock options. The company's stock has more than tripled in the past three years.
Yes, Katrina is just another opportunity for cronyism. What did you expect with Karl Rove in charge of reconstruction?
Labels: Politics
posted by isaacjosephson at 6:25 AM
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