news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050910/pl_nm/contracts_dc
Reuters Firms with Bush ties snag Katrina deals Sat Sep 10,11:03 AM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Companies with ties to the Bush White House and th e former head of FEMA are clinching some of the administration's first d isaster relief and reconstruction contracts in the aftermath of Hurrican e Katrina.
But the web of Bush administration connections is attracting renewed atte ntion from watchdog groups in the post-Katrina reconstruction rush. Cong ress has already appropriated more than $60 billion in emergency funding as a down payment on recovery efforts projected to cost well over $100 billion. "The government has got to stop stacking senior positions with people who are repeatedly cashing in on the public trust in order to further priva te commercial interests," said Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight. TWO BUSH APPOINTEES AT HALLIBURTON Allbaugh formally registered as a lobbyist for Halliburton subsidiary Kel logg Brown and Root in February. In lobbying disclosure forms filed with the Senate, Allbaugh said his goa l was to "educate the congressional and executive branch on defense, dis aster relief and homeland security issues affecting Kellogg Brown and Ro ot." Melissa Norcross, a Halliburton spokeswoman, said Allbaugh has not, since he was hired, "consulted on any specific contracts that the company is considering pursuing, nor has he been tasked by the company with any lob bying responsibilities." Allbaugh is also a friend of Michael Brown, director of FEMA who was remo ved as head of Katrina disaster relief and sent back to Washington amid allegations he had padded his resume. A few months after Allbaugh was hired by Halliburton, the company retaine d another high-level Bush appointee, Kirk Van Tine. Van Tine registered as a lobbyist for Halliburton six months after resign ing as deputy transportation secretary, a position he held from December 2003 to December 2004. Norcros s said the work was covered under a contract that the company negotiated before Allbaugh was hired. Halliburton continues to be a source of income for Cheney, who served as its chief executive officer from 1995 until 2000 when he joined the Repu blican ticket for the White House. According to tax filings released in April, Cheney's income included $194,852 in deferred pay from the compan y, which has also won billion-dollar government contracts in Iraq. Cheney's office said the amount of deferred compensation is fixed and is not affected by Halliburton's current economic performance or earnings. Allbaugh's other major client, Baton Rouge-based Shaw Group, has updated its Web site to say: "Hurricane Recovery Projects -- Apply Here!" Shaw said on Thursday it has received a $100 million emergency FEMA contr act for housing management and construction. Shaw also clinched a $100 m illion order on Friday from the US Army Corps of Engineers. Shaw Group spokesman Chris Sammons said Allbaugh was providing the compan y with "general consulting on business matters," and would not say wheth er he played a direct role in any of the Katrina deals. "We don't commen t on specific consulting activities," he said.
An aerial view of roads and homes covered in floodwaters nearly two w eeks after Hurricane Katrina hit in New Orleans September 10, 2005. Emer gency workers collected the dead of New Orleans on Saturday and the offi cial death toll rose slowly, boosting hopes Hurricane Katrina would clai m far fewer lives than the many thousands once feared.
Republication or r edistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the pri or written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any error s or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon .
|
http://csua.com/feed/