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PatrickHenry · Apr 11, 2006, 06:36 pm

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/sto...2219558632.htm

Quote:

Government agencies paid inflated prices for goods and services in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in a system riddled with waste, three government inspectors general testified at a congressional hearing Monday.

It was the first time the three government auditors - inspectors general with the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and Army - publicly disclosed figures on government waste in the Katrina recovery effort.

The inflated prices were a result of poor planning as well as a lack of proper oversight, the three said.

In the case of debris-removal contracts, awarded to four firms, the Auditor General of the Army found that the four subcontracted their work to multiple tiers of subcontractors, resulting in markups between 17 percent to 47 percent.

Similar price hikes were found in other services, including the placing of blue covers on damaged houses and the installation of temporary housing trailers.

<snip>
Louisiana Rep. Bobby Jindal said the Federal Emergency Management Agency paid $175 per square of blue tarp to place on blighted roofs. But multiple contracting levels later, Louisiana contractors reported they were being paid as little as $2 a square. Each square consists of 100 square feet.

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who chaired the hearing, cited the cost FEMA paid to install each mobile home: ``In Oklahoma, we could build a nice little home for $70,000.''

Well, well. Fraud and waste in the FEMA/Katrina affair. Surprise, surprise... :eek:

Osborn F Enready · Apr 11, 2006, 07:27 pm

Why do they say "wasteful" when the term is FRAUD?

Damn criminals.

And people wonder why I am anti-Tax.

Apeman81 · Apr 12, 2006, 02:28 pm

Fraud at any level of government, in a society where the average Joe and Joan know more about the sex life of Ben and Jen than they know about the political acumen of the elected official they voted for, is to be expected.

Move along folks, nothing to see here.

And they won't.

bishop · Apr 12, 2006, 02:43 pm

this is definitely not a surprise... the shits in congress approved spending in a heartbeat, without a damned clue how it was going to be spent.. if there's one thing our government does consistently, it's fuck up and waste money.

gotta love that bit at the end where they could've built a house for $70k, rather than install a mobile home (most of which aren't even being used!!!).

can't wait and see the mayhem that this coming summer could bring.. especially since the levees still haven't been adequately repaired.

Apr 11, 2006, 07:27 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
Osborn F Enready Principled Observer Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 13,873	Why do they say "wasteful" when the term is FRAUD? Damn criminals. And people wonder why I am anti-Tax. Petition of Redress of Grievances: http://www.givemeliberty.org/default.htm Canadian Lawsuit Against Their National Banks: http://www.freewebs.com/classaction/ Osborn F. Enready

Apr 12, 2006, 02:43 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
bishop moderat-e/o-r Location: boston Posts: 11,184	this is definitely not a surprise... the shits in congress approved spending in a heartbeat, without a damned clue how it was going to be spent.. if there's one thing our government does consistently, it's fuck up and waste money. gotta love that bit at the end where they could've built a house for $70k, rather than install a mobile home (most of which aren't even being used!!!). can't wait and see the mayhem that this coming summer could bring.. especially since the levees still haven't been adequately repaired. hope for america... http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

Apr 12, 2006, 02:28 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
Apeman81 Hot Lava Posts: 1,302	Fraud at any level of government, in a society where the average Joe and Joan know more about the sex life of Ben and Jen than they know about the political acumen of the elected official they voted for, is to be expected. Move along folks, nothing to see here. And they won't.