The 4th Branch:In Washington, Contractors Take on Biggest Role Ever

[cal04]

The Fourth Branch
In Washington, Contractors Take on Biggest Role Ever
In June, short of people to process cases of incompetence and fraud by federal contractors, officials at the General Services Administration responded with what has become the government’s reflexive answer to almost every problem.

They hired another contractor.

It did not matter that the company they chose, CACI International, had itself recently avoided a suspension from federal contracting; or that the work, delving into investigative files on other contractors, appeared to pose a conflict of interest; or that each person supplied by the company would cost taxpayers $104 an hour. Six CACI workers soon joined hundreds of other private-sector workers at the G.S.A., the government’s management agency.

Without a public debate or formal policy decision, contractors have become a virtual fourth branch of government. On the rise for decades, spending on federal contracts has soared during the Bush administration, to about $400 billion last year from $207 billion in 2000, fueled by the war in Iraq, domestic security and Hurricane Katrina, but also by a philosophy that encourages outsourcing almost everything government does.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/washington/04contract.html?hp&ex=1170565200&en=dfb318129496cb61&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[annabanana]

1. Let me get this straight...

The government is (finally) investigating fraud perpetuated on us by contractors... and has hired one of the suspect contractors to "help" with the paperwork?!?

Oh this is a good one.

[struggle4progress]

2. kick

:kick:

[rumpel]

3. kick

:kick:

I am amazed, that there were such few coments on this article. The fact that private companies have access to information on private citizens, which they often turn around and sell to others should raise a red flag alone.
It also speaks volumes of the so called Homeland Security being outsourced - intel in private hands - :rofl:
classifying documents is merely a smokescreen to hide all the illegal dealings -
what a country this has become - it is high time to demand massive overhaul - the mantra of small government is just laughable
This is what it's all about - stealing from the tax payers and lining the pockets of the few - crooks are running this country for the crooks

Hurray for Henry :applause: