... significant input into selecting the subcommittee chairs, I'd say it's safe to say that he has in place the team he wants in place.
That said: I take particular interest in the Halliburton-specific interest of one newly-named subcommittee chair's press release today:
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny10_towns/subchair.htmlFor Immediate Release Contact: Denise Mixon
January 17, 2007 (202) 226-4045
Congressman Edolphus Towns to Chair
Government Reform Sub-Committee
Washington, DC - Congressman Edolphus Towns, New York 10th Congressional District, has been selected as the Chairman of the Government Management, Organization, and Procurement Sub-committee. This Sub-committee has particular oversight of government agencies and agency contracts.
"In my role as Chairman of this sub-committee, I am looking to launch a series of hearings into the no-bid contracts that have been issued by the Defense Department, particularly, in the case of the war in Iraq. There have been several billion dollar contracts given to Halliburton and its subsidiaries and many questions have been raised about the Iraq contracting process. Primarily questions on the seemingly inflated prices charged by Halliburton to import gasoline from Kuwait into Iraq; and Halliburton's admission of kickbacks to company officials," stated Congressman Towns.
So far, the war in Iraq has cost American taxpayers nearly $360 billion. Taxpayers residing in New York's 10th Congressional District have spent more than $780 million on this war. Had it not been for the U.S.'s involvement in Iraq that money could have provided:
· More than 140 thousand people with health care;
· Nearly 10 thousand more elementary school teachers;
· Almost 90 thousand Head Start slots for children;
· Approximately 270 thousand children with health care;
· Nearly 130 thousand scholarships for university students;
· About 12,000 port container inspectors.
More than 150 U.S. companies were awarded contracts for post-war work totaling more than $50 billion. Halliburton received the largest contract, worth more than $12 billion, while 13 other U.S. companies received contracts worth more than $1.5 billion each. The seven largest reconstruction contracts went to:
· Parsons Corporation, Pasadena, CA, $5.3 billion
· Fluor Corporation, Aliso Veijo, CA, $3.75 billion
· Washington Group International, Boise, Idaho, $3.1 billion
· Shaw Group, Baton Rouge, LA, $3 billion
· Bechtel Corporation, San Francisco, CA, $2.8 billion
· Perini Corporation, Framingham, MA, $2.5 billion
· Contrack International, Inc., Arlington, VA $2.3 billion
These companies are responsible for virtually all of the reconstruction in Iraq, including water, bridges, roads, hospitals, sewers and electricity.
Management, waste, abuse and criminality have characterized U.S. corporations in Iraq, leading to a series of U.S. contract cancellations. For example, a $243 million contract held by the Parsons Corporation for the construction of 150 health care centers was cancelled after more than two years of work and $186 million created just six centers, only two of which are serving patients. The Bechtel Corporation was dropped from a $50 million contract for the construction of a children's hospital in Basra after it went $90 million over budget and a year-and-a-half behind schedule. These contracts have since been turned over to Iraqi companies.
Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root is currently being investigated by government agencies and faces dozens of charges for waste, fraud and abuse. Last year, the U.S. Army cancelled Halliburton's largest government contract, the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program, which was for worldwide logistical support to U.S. troops.
"This squandering of American tax dollars must stop. There must be an end to these
no-bid contracts." added Congressman Towns.
###
- Dave