In another display of blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility, Virginia Senator George Allen joined other Republicans along party lines to reject a Democratic proposal to investigate waste and fraud in current military contracts.Failing by a 52-to-44 vote in the U.S. Senate, the proposal, sponsored by Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, hoped to:
"establish a special committee of the Senate to investigate the awarding and carrying out of contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight the war on terrorism."
Ironically, the proposal, which called for the creation of a modern-day Truman Committee to investigate rampant military contractor fraud, was an amendment to (Virginia's other Senator) John Warner's 2007 military appropriations bill.
For those who remember the Truman Committee, it was from here that the rather obscure Missouri Senator Harry S. Truman shot to prominence by "exposing fraud and mismanagement" of military contracts. His efforts, which were expected to go nowhere when the committee was initially commissioned, saved some $11 billion in 1940's U.S. dollars, earning Truman his first (of 9) appearances on the cover of Time magazine in 1943 and a spot as Vice President on the 1944 Democratic ticket.
It should come as no surprise to those following defense and domestic issues, that Republicans have once again chosen to put partisan bias and the monetary gain of their own donor class over the interests of the average American and completely disregarded old-line conservative issues of fiscal responsibility and respect for the military.
Even less surprising should be George Allen's shameless pandering to those interests which continue to harm the American taxpayer and even betrays our soldiers as they die in the sands of Iraq while war profiteering continues unchecked.
A recent investigative post by Lowell on one of Allen's dubious donors only confirms Allen's true nature.
And a visit to Dorgan's Senate website informs us of the shameful truth that this is not the first time George Allen or the Republican party has failed recently to protect America.
For the second time in two weeks, the U.S. Senate on Tuesday rejected legislation that would have provided greater oversight of the billions of tax dollars being spent in Iraq reconstruction, despite congressional hearings chaired by Senator Byron Dorgan that have documented what Dorgan describes as +óGé¼+ôthe greatest amount of waste, fraud and abuse in the history of the country.+óGé¼-¥
It's obvious, by failing to join in a bipartisan effort to end waste and fraud in military spending, that Allen and his fellow Republican Senators continue to march under the heavy spell of Bush crony capitalism.
At the same time, George Allen somehow finds it acceptable to request a review of Homeland Security funding for the nation's capital region, but not massive contracting waste and fraud.
Not sure if this is hypocritical, but Allen's actions at least deserve a closer look.
If you don't believe this type of behavior represents Virginia values, let George Allen hear about it by e-mailing him or calling his Senate office at: (202) 224-4024.
After that, remember to vote for Jim Webb in November.
The only one I can think of is that he fears it will be abused as a partisan witchhunt, but at worst the committee composition would be even to "check" any alleged partisan abuses, so that doesn't fly with me. Any others?
While Republicans keep talking about how they are making America safe in the War on Terror and exporting democracy to the Middle East, it is becoming more obvious that they are just covering up for their donor friends who have their hands in the American taxpayer's till.
Deeds are precious and words are cheap.
And the GOP wonders why they lost all their government spending credibility.