Claire McCaskill's Sweeping Overhaul Of Wartime Contracting Passes Senate

[unhappycamper]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/05/claire-mccaskill-wartime-contracting-senate_n_2245135.html




Claire McCaskill's Sweeping Overhaul Of Wartime Contracting Passes Senate
Posted: 12/05/2012 6:01 pm EST Updated: 12/05/2012 6:26 pm EST

WASHINGTON -- The Senate passed a sweeping overhaul on Tuesday of the U.S. government's wartime contracting procedures, the largest such reform in decades. Sen. Claire McCaskill's (D-Mo.) amendment, included in the national defense bill, is aimed at improving oversight and cracking down on the rampant waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars in contracting practices.

"While these wars wind down, we can't lose the urgency to correct these mistakes and prevent them from being repeated in the future," said McCaskill in a statement. "Protecting taxpayer dollars isn't the flashiest issue. But it's a promise I made to Missourians, and it's something I pledge to continue fighting for, with dogged determination, until this legislation is signed into law."

Wartime contracting was not the headline issue in McCaskill's recent Senate race, where she spoke out on the reproductive rights of women after her opponent, Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), made his infamous remark about "legitimate rape." But the topic is near and dear to the heart of McCaskill, who was previously Missouri state auditor.

McCaskill has been leading a six-year effort to crack down on wartime contracting abuses. For example, there was the $345 million spent on health centers in Iraq that went largely unused. There was also the $300 million the United States spent on building the Tarakhil Power Plant in Afghanistan, without considering whether the country would be able to afford the expensive fuel to run the plant.

[babylonsister]

1. This is fantastic!! Rec'd! nt

[Sherman A1]

2. K&R

[sarchasm]

3. K & R

[Hotler]

4. And don't forget the $12-billion in $100 bills that went missing in....

Iraq in 2003. 363 tons of hundred dollar bills gone.

[John2]

6. Yep,

we need to audit Halliburton and investigate Dick Cheney's tax returns. Any way we can come up with a few Billion to pay down the Debt. If there is waste out there, then we can find it. If they spent it, then confiscate some property.

[dotymed]

7. I found it very strange that

money was not mentioned. It was the epitome of war time profiteering. It must've been a convenient way of channeling that money into personal pockets. No one "loses" a pallet of $100 dollar bills.

[mopinko]

8. it paid the war lords.

tammy duckworth flew missions dropping pallets of cash in the middle of the desert. that's how you cobble together "the northern alliance" and "win" the war in afghanistan in a matter of weeks. mission accomplished.

[RC]

5. Too bad Claire McCaskill couldn't run on this issue in Missouri.

She would have lost in this Red, Right-Wing, Fox News following state.