Question about Diane Feinstein and war profiteering

[Rose Siding]

Last year, I was disappointed to learn that this Senator's husband is with a company that has received very large govt defense contracts, casting suspicion on her IWR vote, imo at the time. I've just run across this redeeming little blurb. Does anyone have any more info about this? I don't know how to hunt it up without the name of the bill.


http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2004/07/diddly.html

With billions in Iraq construction contracts pending last year, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) borrowed World War II-era language for an amendment that would criminalize war profiteering. But the Republican leadership not only removed it; they also raised the limit on no-bid contracts from $7.5 million to $200 million, inaugurating a new era of raiding the U.S. Treasury, all of it legal.

[SheBop]

1. Without doing the research,

because, yes, I am that darn lazy, I don't understand what the problem is.

What you have posted shows a good thing: a Senator who votes her conscience rather than her husband's profit margin. How many Republicans can say the same?

:kick:

[Rose Siding]

2. Yes, it's good

Not a problem at all. I'm interested in how that kind of law might read. *All* the contracts given to companies that have personal contacts with, or who are contributors to legislators look hinky at this point. How would profiteering be determined?

I'd also like to know who sunk it. The minority leader's wife is a lobbyist in another industry, for instance.

GE's new power over legislation has me thinking about it.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. How would profiteering be determined?

Here is a pretty good example of profiteering. Site isn't the greatest... but it isn't the worst either. I seem to remember Randi saying something a few years ago that there was a generic available for a mere pittance.... however dem boyz went for the exorbitantly priced stuff from Bioport... someone correct me if I have my wires crossed....

For the techies... I got my Linux box and my Windoze box talking to each other now... perty cool.


http://lioneagle.tripod.com/RestoreDemocracy/
*Admiral Crowe, ex Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff('85-'89) is 13% owner of Bioport, who has exclusive license for Anthrax Vaccine. " Admiral Crowe is also an advisor to Global Options LLC, "an international crisis management firm based in Washington". Their web site (http://www.globalops.com) contains the slogan, "The Corporate Equalizer". Also on the advisory board for Global Options is former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, R. James Woolsey.

[mike_c]

6. DiFi betrayed her constituents big time....

IIRC, calls to her office were running something like 95 percent opposed to the IWR, but she voted "yes." Her own staffers were astounded-- one young woman in her San Fran office that I spoke with after her vote was shocked and dismayed, and at a loss to explain it.

[Senior citizen]

3. Maybe Feinstein's husband's company wasn't

one of the ones getting those juicy no-bid contracts that the pukes give to their own companies.

My personal feeling, based on past experience, is that Feinstein is owned by the defense-industrial complex, and was merely trying to get the pukes to share the blood money.

[SheBop]

8. And that's a

Democrat of whom you are speaking.

Do you remember how she was catapulted into the public eye?

Do the names Harvey Milk and George Moscone mean anything to you?

:wtf:

[Eric J in MN]

4. here is the text of an an anti-profiteering amendment

I don't know if this is the one referred to in Mother Jones.

-------
War Profiteering Prevention Act of 2003 (Introduced in Senate)

S 1813 IS


108th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1813
To prohibit profiteering and fraud relating to military action, relief, and reconstruction efforts in Iraq, and for other purposes.


IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 3, 2003
Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. DURBIN, and Mrs. CLINTON) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A BILL
To prohibit profiteering and fraud relating to military action, relief, and reconstruction efforts in Iraq, and for other purposes.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `War Profiteering Prevention Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF PROFITEERING .

(a) PROHIBITION-

(1) IN GENERAL- Chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`Sec. 1037. War profiteering and fraud relating to military action, relief, and reconstruction efforts in Iraq

`(a) PROHIBITION-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Whoever, in any matter involving a contract or the provision of goods or services, directly or indirectly, in connection with the war, military action, or relief or reconstruction activities in Iraq, knowingly and willfully--

`(A) executes or attempts to execute a scheme or artifice to defraud the United States or Iraq;

`(B) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;

`(C) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or uses any materially false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry; or

`(D) materially overvalues any good or service with the specific intent to excessively profit from the war, military action, or relief or reconstruction activities in Iraq;

shall be fined under paragraph (2), imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

`(2) FINE- A person convicted of an offense under paragraph (1) may be fined the greater of--

`(A) $1,000,000; or

`(B) if such person derives profits or other proceeds from the offense, not more than twice the gross profits or other proceeds.

`(b) EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION- There is extraterritorial Federal jurisdiction over an offense under this section.

`(c) VENUE- A prosecution for an offense under this section may be brought--

`(1) as authorized by chapter 211 of this title;

`(2) in any district where any act in furtherance of the offense took place; or

`(3) in any district where any party to the contract or provider of goods or services is located.'.

(2) TABLE OF SECTIONS- The table of sections for chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`1037. War profiteering and fraud relating to military action, relief, and reconstruction efforts in Iraq.'.

(b) EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITIES- The authorities provided for under this Act shall expire upon the date that major combat operations in Iraq cease and desist, the Coalition Provisional Authority transfers responsibility for governing Iraq to an indigenous Iraqi government, and a United States mission to Iraq, under the direction and guidance of the Secretary of State, is responsible for United States assistance efforts in Iraq. This subsection shall not limit or repeal any additional authorities provided by law.

(c) CIVIL FORFEITURE- Section 981(a)(1)(C) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting `1037' after `1032'.

(d) CRIMINAL FORFEITURE- Section 982(a)(2)(B) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking `or 1030' and inserting `1030, or 1032'.

(e) HEADER- Section 1956(c)(7)(D) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting the following: `, section 1037 (relating to war profiteering and fraud relating to military action, relief, and reconstruction efforts in Iraq)' after `liquidating agent of financial institution),'.

[Rose Siding]

5. Wow, thanks, Eric

That has her name on it, among others.

This should have become law.

[SheBop]

9. Right On! eom