Could Amendment to Waxman's Accountability in Contracting Act Prevent Halliburton Flight to Dubai?

[CorpGovActivist]

With a fairly simple amendment, this act - due to be debated on the House floor this week - could penalize *any* prime contractor that relocates its corporate headquarters outside the United States during its contract "period of performance," by:

1. reducing or offsetting "award fees," to cover the added costs of auditing the company's records;

2. requiring an automatic re-compete of all currently-held prime contracts; and/or

3. rendering said company ineligible for an array of tax breaks.

Information about the bill: http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1202

If you would like to see Halliburton forced to cancel this announced move, please contact Waxman's staff and your local Member of Congress and your state's Senators:

http://oversight.house.gov/contact.asp

Best to all,

- Dave

[blm]

1. We need to stay on lawmakers and media over this story to give Congress the

time to make their move to block Halliburton from removing any paperwork out of the country NOW.

[CorpGovActivist]

3. With Waxman's Chess Pieces Already on the Board...

... a simple amendment would constitute a very powerful shot across the bow.

- Dave

[blm]

10. You should post this at Dkos, Corp

.

[CorpGovActivist]

13. Feel Free...

... to post a link. I think it would probably benefit from an introduction from a regular member of that community.

- Dave

[blm]

16. I am just a lurking visitor there.

I keep DU up as a constant source for news while I pursue my daily life, work and contacting news media on various stories.

It's easier to keep just one site up on the computer while I go about the day. ;))) But I do check out what's happening on Dkos.

[halobeam]

44. I just emailed him.

Thanks again for all YOUR time you put in here, to help us become effective participants, and accurate in our information.

[jimshoes]

2. C'mon Dem lawmakers,

you have the power to do this. This latest affront to America and her people needs to be scrutinized by both houses, the media, the internet, the Progressive talk radio network of stations like AAR in much the same way as the Dubai Ports deal was. Only this time we must put a stop to these criminal dealings.

[EFerrari]

4. I really appreciate your updates, Dave.

K&R

[Frustratedlady]

5. I just contacted Waxman. Thank you for the post.

Their contracts in Iraq must be winding down if they are high-tailing it out of the country before an investigation can be started. I suppose Cheney is going to retire to one of those fancy high-rises?

[CorpGovActivist]

7. This Move Is Not Inevitable...

... and the Congress can weigh in with enough consequences to head it off at the pass.

- Dave

[Subdivisions]

27. I sent Waxman a note on this too. n/t

[CorpGovActivist]

28. Thanks! Participatory Democracy Rocks...

... and Waxman's staffers are especially responsive on stuff like this, in terms of incorporating it into pending legislation.

: )

- Dave

[annabanana]

6. Absolut k&r !

one more rec for greatest page

[SlowDownFast]

8. Rec'd.

[KoKo]

9. Many Thanks....we can't sit back and coast, crossing our fingers

that our Dems will challenge and expose. We have to keep going even if many are now cynical that change isn't coming soon enough and others exhausted by so many years of batteling.

Gotta keep whipping our tired selves to go another mile and finding encourage fresh recruits to expose this Massive Criminal Enterprise of the Military/Industrial/Media Complex in bed with what "used to be" our elected Government.

Great info....

[CorpGovActivist]

11. Fighting Cynicism and Despair...

... you make a fantastic point. We cannot give in to these impulses, and we have a voice.

- Dave

[Anywho6]

12. Done! And thank you! n/t

[Laurab]

14. Done, K&R

wrote to my Congressman, and to the Waxman.

Thanks, Dave!

[Jax]

15. Done

Will personally call them all tomorrow as well as the emails and links I just sent.

For me you are quickly becoming a DU treasure, Corp.

Alyce

Recommended.

[CorpGovActivist]

19. Thanks!

Just a policy geek.

; )

- Dave

[Blackhatjack]

17. Dave the problem with corporations is they can act any way they want....

... and really the only penalty you can impose is financial.

I think Waxman can do this and it will bear fruit, but it won't stop Halliburton from moving its principal place of business to Dubai.

Unless and until we start putting the screws to the top individual officials at Halliburton, giving out prison sentences, nothing much is going to change.

[CorpGovActivist]

18. Valid Points...

... but penalizing the corporation in this fashion - or introducing a statutory provision to do so - harnesses the corporation's institutional shareholders' interests.

- Dave

[Blackhatjack]

22. Right! And I think that is exactly what motivated the decision to move the HQ outside the US

Halliburton can conduct business anywhere in the world, under any manner of shell corporate names, and basically outside the reach of the US(except for hard assets on the ground here).

They were thinking about all the bad financial outcomes that are headed their way, and decided to jettison Blackwater and move the principal place of business outside the US, to give them the opportunity to hold onto every ill-gotten gain they already pocketed.

The big move would be to freeze trading of Halliburton on the stock market, catching all the institutional investors with stocks they could not trade --now then you would get some action.

[CorpGovActivist]

23. UAE Banking System

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=uae+banking

Three guesses which BushCo. bank has been operating there for 15 years.

; )

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

24. Halliburton Already Has a Dubai Bank

http://www.ssga.com/dubai/dubai_longcap_info.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=halliburton+%22state+street%22

"Press Release - State Street Renews Contract with Halliburton"

- Dave

[K8-EEE]

20. K&R And Also....Contact The MEDIA

And ask for this story to be covered....

[CorpGovActivist]

21. Great Point on Media; Also, State-Level Action

Please see related thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x389954

- Dave

[halobeam]

45. Darn, that thread can be recommended any longer.. and it's so important!

It slipped right through my little fingers....grrrr.

Well, I can link ppl to it, lol as you have.

[K8-EEE]

47. Thanks so much, will send this around!

Thanks Dave!

[Nikki Stone1]

25. kick

:kick:

[Laurab]

26. This needs more recommendations - there's a long thread on Halliburton

that's gotten far more responses - let's DO something about it!

:kick:

:kick:



Edit - typo

[CorpGovActivist]

29. House Debate This Week

http://www.house.gov/house/floor/thisweek.htm

"During the week of March 12, five good government initiatives from the Committee will be considered on the House floor.

H.R. 1309: Freedom of Information Act Amendments

H.R. 1362: Accountability in Contracting Act

H.R. 1255: Presidential Records Act Amendments

H.R. 1254: Presidential Library Donation Reform Act

H.R. 985: Whistleblower Protection Act"

http://oversight.house.gov/

- Dave

[lyonn]

43. Whew! All those are critical and ......just plain critical issues!

Waxman is our Man!

[w4rma]

30. I strongly support this and any other stronger bills written with a similar intent. (nt)

[leveymg]

35. Yes, a stronger rule needed. WTO rules need to be revisited, too.

The WTO set limits on what restrictions and penalties states can impose on corporations that go off-shore. It's time for a total rethink of those rules, particularly defense-related industries.

[CorpGovActivist]

36. Good Point...the Buy American Act Loopholes WTO, Etc. n/t

[elehhhhna]

38. Hey Dave, I can't find any evidence of an EXTRADITION TREATY

between the UAE & US. Hmmm.

[stillcool]

31. just thought i'd add this link...

if anyone wants to use it to email.
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

32. Thanks CGA, K & R. No to Halliburton feels good. I'll be calling tomorrow.

:applause: CorpsGovActivist. MKJ

[diane in sf]

33. thank you, done...

[progressoid]

34. Thanks for the links. Will be contacting my people shorlty!

[Thothmes]

37. Accountability in Contracting

IMO ex-post facto principles apply to the Halliburton move and current contracts. Restrictions imposed by changing current law do not apply retroactively. Halliburton could move, and their current contracts could not be unilaterally changed. All future actions and contract could be subject to the regulations.

[gristy]

39. Done

Thanks for the link, Dave!

[Spazito]

40. Has the UAE signed an extradition treaty with the US?

I tried to find out but could only find an article from Aug 13, 2006 stating they were talking about a possible treaty:

UAE-USA judicial & legal cooperation discussed
posted on 13/08/2006
Assistant undersecretary for planning and international cooperation at the Ministry of Justice Dr. Abdul Rahim Yousef Al Awadhi received yesterday resident legal advisor at the USA embassy in Abu Dhabi Michael Johnson. The meeting touched on legal and judicial cooperation between the two countries in addition to proposed extradition, criminal and judicial training agreements. (Emirates News Agency, WAM)

http://uaeinteract.com/news/default.asp?ID=326

If there is, as yet, NO treaty, this could be a major reason, imo, for them to be moving to the UAE over and above the evasion of taxes issue.

[cyberpj]

41. U.S. has NO EXTRADITION TREATY with United Arab Emirates

11 March 2007
U.S. has no extradition treaty with Halliburton's new home country, United Arab Emirates

http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/

[lyonn]

42. Halliburton, formerly know as the U.S.A.

has moved their CEO, president, to Dubai. Are they trying to tell we, of the United States of Halliburton, otherwise known as a World Conglomerate of war making machines, corporate unification, etc. that they can not be sued, investigated, or are responsible to anyone?

Just asking as I am not too smart.

This is my repeat response to another post about Halliburton. And we thought cheney would be out of office in 09! Not so, His control and all those that pack the American dollar around buying and selling America will still be in control and in business.

[CorpGovActivist]

46. Thank You to Those Who Contacted Waxman and/or Their Own Members (Not Too Late)

Watch the floor debate this week to see the impact of the suggestion:

http://clerk.house.gov/

http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1202

Best,

- Dave