Tell your US Rep. and two US Senators NO to political manipulation of procurement process

Citizens Against Government Waste is returning to a fight in Congress they thought they had already won-- open and competitive bidding in the defense procurement process. Yet, despite a scandal, a massive federal fine, and even criminal penalties for some of those involved, Boeing Co. is once again trying to use its political connections in Congress to secure an Air Force refueling tanker contract.

While the $35 billion cost to taxpayers of the tanker contract is significant, more is at stake in this battle than dollars and cents. Letting Congress disrupt the competitive procurement process will set a dangerous precedent for all future federal contracts. Members of Congress will simply select their favored pet contractors, regardless of the cost to taxpayers or the impact on our Armed Forces.

Please tell your U.S. Representative and Senators today that you won’t stand for this blatant political manipulation, by sending a customizeable letter from CAGW's website. Or, call them directly through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Thank you

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U.S. Department of Defense contracts with faulty helmet manufacturer for more helmets!

CREW posts on its blog that a sub-standard military helmet manufacturer is nevertheless being contracted for yet more helmets by the U.S. Department of Defense!

6 Feb 2008 // Today, in light of evidence that a company has been outfitting our nation's troops with substandard Kevlar helmets, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sent a letter to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees requesting an investigation into a Department of Defense $74 million contract awarded to Sioux Manufacturing.

The New York Times reported that Sioux Manufacturing, which makes Kevlar helmets, has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the company had shortchanged the armor in up to 2.2 million helmets for the military, including helmets used by American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense, aware of both the problem with Sioux's helmets and the company's efforts to cover it up, awarded another contract to Sioux a mere 12 days before the lawsuit was settled.

It has astounded me for years the level of incompetence and, frankly, immorality this administration has subjected its own troops, and veterans, to in the face of two ongoing wars.

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A sample report from this blog's federal government database list

This is a government finance report of U.S. Representative Neugebauer; it is derived from free links in this blog's "Federal Government Finance Databases" in the left column. It is just one thing you can do for your own state and federal representatives from this blog; you can also search their campaign finances, ethics violations and other news. Then, from your reports, cull information that may be useful in your communications, and, ultimately, in your votes next election day.

U.S. Representative Randy Neugebauer (R-TX): government finance free data links

Details at
http://www.taxpayer.net/TCS/PressReleases/2007/11-19cdefense.html House
Bill Database

Taxpayers for Common Sense

Defense spending bill earmarks

Two earmarks from Neugebauer

Details at
http://www.fedspending.org/fpds/fpds.php?reptype=r&database=fpds&fiscal_y
ear=2006&detail=-1&mustcd=y&datype=T&sortby=f&pop_cd2=TX19

FedSpending.org

Contracts performed in Texas 19 (Neugebauer)

Details at
http://www.fedspending.org/faads/faads.php?reptype=p&database=faads&datyp
e=T&fiscal_year=2005&sortby=f&detail=-1&principal_place_state_code=48

FedSpending.org

Assistance spent in Texas (FY 2005)

Texas 19 (Neugebauer) was third-highest paying congressional district in Texas

Details at http://www.legistorm.com/member/Rep_Randy_Neugebauer/398.html

LEGISTORM

Salary data for Neugebauer and staff

Details at
http://www.legistorm.com/trip/approver/Rep_Randy_Neugebauer/398/all.html

LEGISTORM

Privately-financed travel by Neugebauer and staff

Details at
http://www.legistorm.com/memberdisclosure/Rep_Randy_Neugebauer/398.html

LEGISTORM

Personal financial disclosure of Neugebauer

Details at http://www.maplight.org/map/us/legislator/526

MAPLight.org

Legislators

Neugebauer-received contributions from interest groups, organizations

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Now, federal contract and grant spending information

Announcing The FFATA Portal; at http://www.ffata.org/, it is a database operated by Global Computer Enterprises, Inc. – the same company that owns and operates FPDS-NG. Following in the footsteps of OMB Watch’s http://www.fedspending.org/, GCE brings federal contract and grant spending information to the public in a very user-friendly format.

The FFATA Portal brings transparency to government spending. It is the place to learn how your tax dollars are working. Current data includes all contracts and grants awarded by different government agencies.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) was signed on September 26, 2006. The intent is to empower every American with the ability to hold the government accountable for each spending decision. The end result is to reduce wasteful spending in the government. The FFATA legislation requires information on federal awards (federal financial assistance and expenditures) be made available to the public via a single, searchable website. Federal awards include grants, subgrants, loans, awards, cooperative agreements and other forms of financial assistance as well as contracts, subcontracts, purchase orders, task orders, and delivery orders. The legislation does not require inclusion of individual transactions below $25,000 or credit card transactions before October 1, 2008.

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Ask your U.S. Senators to vote YES on wartime contracting reform

POGO-- Project on Government Oversight-- is running a grassroots campaign for wartime contract reform. Billions of dollars have been lost due to mismanagement of financial contracts between Congress and private companies in the battle against terrorism. Here's the message from POGO asking for your action; the U.S. Senate bill number is S 1825:

Congress has recently taken great strides toward holding wartime contractors accountable. Last week Senators James Webb (D-VA) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) introduced a legislative initiative to establish an independent and bipartisan Commission on Wartime Contracting. POGO sent Senators Webb and McCaskill a letter to offer support for the bill, which would help to alleviate the burden placed on taxpayers due to waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement of wartime contracts.
The bill is currently at a crucial juncture; we need your help to ensure its passage. Please call or write your Senators today and ask them to support "The Commission on Wartime Contracting Act" (S. 1825) so that wartime contractors can be held to account for their misconduct.
Sincerely,
Danielle Brian, Executive Director, Project On Government Oversight

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