Federal contracts up 86% under Bush; Halliburton rises 600%

[im10ashus]

Filed by RAW STORY

Top contractor Lockheed got contracts larger than budget of Congress, Dept. of Interior

WASHINGTON -- A new report claims that a "shadow government" of federal contractors has exploded in size over the last five years.

The document, compiled at the request of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and distributed to RAW STORY, indicates that procurement spending increased by over $175 billion between 2000 and 2005, making federal contracts the fastest growing component of federal discretionary spending.

500 reports, audits and investigations by government and independent bodies, including the Government Accountability Office and the Defense Contract Audit Agency, were used to compile the data.

That spending increase -- an astonishing 86 percent -- puts total US federal procurement at $377.5 billion annually. The increase means spending on federal contracts has grown more than two times as fast as other forms of discretionary government spending.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Report_Federal_contracts_rise_86_under_0619.html

[liberal N proud]

1. They say republicans are for smaller government.

What a crock of shit!

[im10ashus]

2. They always say that.

But where's their proof? Have they ever provided statistics for that? Amazingly, they get away with it.

[neoblues]

3. Unless whoever's behind the Republicans...

is planning for some circumstance in which the U.S. can just say "all past debts are cancelled; we don't owe you anything", which is insane, their current approach of creating debt is insane. Therefore, they're insane. They may be insane like a FOX, planning on taking total control after our country collapses... but insane nonetheless.

[gratuitous]

4. And what does the teevee tell us to worry about?

Some poor family that lost everything in Katrina might have used an unauthorized $500 card issued by FEMA. Talk about straining out gnats while swallowing elephants!

[im10ashus]

5. "straining out gnats while swallowing elephants"

Grandma, is that you?

B-)

Haven't heard that one in a long time.