NYT: Many Contracts for Storm Work Raise Questions ("very apprehensive")

[DeepModem Mom]

Many Contracts for Storm Work Raise Questions
By ERIC LIPTON and RON NIXON
Published: September 26, 2005


WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 - Topping the federal government's list of costs related to Hurricane Katrina is the $568 million in contracts for debris removal landed by a Florida company with ties to Mississippi's Republican governor. Near the bottom is an $89.95 bill for a pair of brown steel-toe shoes bought by an Environmental Protection Agency worker in Baton Rouge, La.

The first detailed tally of commitments from federal agencies since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast four weeks ago shows that more than 15 contracts exceed $100 million, including 5 of $500 million or more. Most of those were for clearing away the trees, homes and cars strewn across the region; purchasing trailers and mobile homes; or providing trucks, ships, buses and planes.

More than 80 percent of the $1.5 billion in contracts signed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency alone were awarded without bidding or with limited competition, government records show, provoking concerns among auditors and government officials about the potential for favoritism or abuse.

Already, questions have been raised about the political connections of two major contractors - the Shaw Group and Kellogg, Brown & Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton - that have been represented by the lobbyist Joe M. Allbaugh, President Bush's former campaign manager and a former leader of FEMA.

"When you do something like this, you do increase the vulnerability for fraud, plain waste, abuse and mismanagement," said Richard L. Skinner, the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security, who said 60 members of his staff were examining Hurricane Katrina contracts. "We are very apprehensive about what we are seeing."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/26/national/nationalspecial/26spend.html?hp&ex=1127707200&en=12b2f5f6d16da01e&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Fenris]

1. "fraud, plain waste, abuse and mismanagement"

In other words, the last 5 years.

[amerikat]

2. It's wonderful day in the neighborhood. Can you say rape and pilage?

I quess they can't shoot the real looters.

[rodeodance]

3. Santa has come to the Repugs again.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. Kind of funny (sadly) - rePugs can't NOT be crooked! No surprise here.

[northzax]

5. you thought our Skinner had a thankless job...

imagine being the Inspector General for DHs, the most crooked of them all.

[gristy]

6. Let's see, how long is it going to take to clean up after Katrina?

Six months? A year? Two years? And the rush to issue several no-bid contracts of over half-a-billion dollars each in less than 2 weeks was... why???

[sam sarrha]

7. i once worked for a Bus company that got a contract they cold not meet,

they bought a bunch of OLD City busses and OLD Coaches from Mexico.. apparently with some Jamaican cocaine money.. the Rasta was really belligerent about the drivers not wanting to drive busses without brakes, steering, turn signals and lights..etc

I mean REALLY BILLIGERANT... they were driving soldiers too.

the Mexicans from across the boarder would drive anything.. minimum wage in mexico is $4.60 a DAY.

[Toots]

8. Why don't they just hire Halliburton to do the study.

I am sure they would be the only ones in the world who could adequately do a study about cronyism and waste and fraud. They have been completely honest and above board to date so give them the chance to uncover abuse. I bet we would have a spotless record of clean contracts.

[Inland]

9. Award them the study on a no-bid, hours and materials plus contract.

After all, we are in a hurry for it, they have the expertise, and it's all Clinton's fault anyway.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Katrina clean-up work under scrutiny

Katrina clean-up work under scrutiny
Report: Homeland Security inspector says much of $1.5B in contracts sealed with only a handshake.
September 26, 2005: 6:41 AM EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 80 percent of the $1.5 billion in contracts signed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to clean up after Hurricane Katrina were awarded without bidding or with limited competition, the New York Times reported Monday.

The newspaper, citing government records, said some of the bids are provoking concern among auditors and government officials about the potential for favoritism or abuse.

The first detailed tally of commitments from federal agencies since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast four weeks ago shows more than 15 contracts exceed $100 million, including five of $500 million or more. Most were for clearing trees, homes and cars strewn across the region; purchasing mobile homes; or providing trucks, ships, buses and planes.

Already, the Times said, questions have been raised about the political connections of two contractors -- the Shaw Group (Research) and Kellogg, Brown & Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton (Research) that have been represented by lobbyist Joe Allbaugh, President Bush's ex-campaign manager and former head of FEMA.
(snip/...)

http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/26/news/economy/katrina_bids.reut/index.htm

[saigon68]

11. Kellogg, Brown & Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton

CHENEY'S PIG FRIENDS

DIP THEIR SNOUTS IN THE PUBLIC TROUGH

What else do you expect?

[goforit]

12. It's time that States reject Federal help!!!.Time to stand on their own!!