Defense measure could steer billions toward contractors

[flashl]

Federal contractors could reap billions from earmarks in the fiscal 2009 Defense authorization bill, according to a Government Executive analysis of data provided by a nonprofit group.

The House version of the bill includes nearly $10 billion in earmarks, the analysis of data from Taxpayers for Common Sense, a budget watchdog group in Washington, showed. Almost $8 billion of that would be directed to contractors. The Senate's version includes more than $5.4 billion in earmarks, and $2.2 billion would go to contractors.

The bill has passed the House but still must clear the Senate and go through conference negotiations. The money also must be appropriated in spending bills before contractors would see any of it.

The recipients of the earmarks would not have to compete with rival firms for the work. "These earmarks short-circuit the entire acquisition process," said Steve Ellis, vice president for programs at Taxpayers for Common Sense. "If they want these projects, they should go through the existing system."

Next Gov

This YOUR gobbermint on auto-pilot.

[unhappycamper]

1. Well, the 2009 military budget is almost at a trillon dollars.

$735,700,000,000 for the baseline budget --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=11462
$165,000,000,000 to continue the occupations --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3487558

What's a few more billion amongst friends? :sarcasm:

[flashl]

2. Yep, good ole govt acctg and accountability where the Pentagon is appropriated billions

and can lose a trillion.

[Thothmes]

3. Sounds like business as usual

It apparently does not make much difference if the Democrats or the Republicans control Congress, its business as usual. If we are going to salvage this mess we need get these people out of there and start over. IMO, that it will not make a fat rats ass which man gets elected to the Oval Office. As long as Congress is more interested in their own reelection efforts than in the peoples business we will never see it change.