Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Wolfala on September 12, 2005, 10:43:08 PM
-
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/10/katrina.contracts.reut/
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Companies with ties to the Bush White House and the former head of FEMA are clinching some of the administration's first disaster relief and reconstruction contracts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
At least two major corporate clients of lobbyist Joe Allbaugh, President Bush's former campaign manager and a former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, have already been tapped to start recovery work along the battered Gulf Coast.
One is Shaw Group Inc. and the other is Halliburton Co. subsidiary Kellogg Brown and Root. Vice President Dick Cheney is a former head of Halliburton.
Bechtel National Inc., a unit of San Francisco-based Bechtel Corp., has also been selected by FEMA to provide short-term housing for people displaced by the hurricane. Bush named Bechtel's CEO to his Export Council and put the former CEO of Bechtel Energy in charge of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
Experts say it has been common practice in both Republican and Democratic administrations for policy makers to take lobbying jobs once they leave office, and many of the same companies seeking contracts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina have already received billions of dollars for work in Iraq.
Halliburton alone has earned more than $9 billion. Pentagon audits released by Democrats in June showed $1.03 billion in "questioned" costs and $422 million in "unsupported" costs for Halliburton's work in Iraq.
Watchdog groups take notice
But the web of Bush administration connections is attracting renewed attention from watchdog groups in the post-Katrina reconstruction rush. Congress 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 private commercial interests," said Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight.
Bush appointees at Halliburton
Allbaugh formally registered as a lobbyist for Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown and Root in February.
In lobbying disclosure forms filed with the Senate, Allbaugh said his goal was to "educate the congressional and executive branch on defense, disaster relief and homeland security issues affecting Kellogg Brown and Root."
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 lobbying responsibilities."
Allbaugh is also a friend of Michael Brown, director of FEMA who was removed as head of Katrina disaster relief and sent back to Washington amid allegations he had padded his resume -- which he denies.
A few months after Allbaugh was hired by Halliburton, the company retained another high-level Bush appointee, Kirk Van Tine.
Van Tine registered as a lobbyist for Halliburton six months after resigning as deputy transportation secretary, a position he held from December 2003 to December 2004.
On Friday, Kellogg Brown & Root received $29.8 million in Pentagon contracts to begin rebuilding Navy bases in Louisiana and Mississippi. Norcross said the work was covered under a contract that the company negotiated before Allbaugh was hired.
Cheney's relationship with Halliburton
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 Republican ticket for the White House. According to tax filings released in April, Cheney's income included $194,852 in deferred pay from the company, 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 contract for housing management and construction. Shaw also clinched a $100 million order on Friday from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Shaw Group spokesman Chris Sammons said Allbaugh was providing the company with "general consulting on business matters," and would not say whether he played a direct role in any of the Katrina deals. "We don't comment on specific consulting activities," he said.
-
:rofl :rofl :rofl
The biggest contractor for the government for the past 20 years or so gets another couple of contracts. Well if that ain't a big surprise. It ain't like they haven't been awarded at least half of the contracts like these for a couple of decades, even under the Clinton administration.
:eek: :eek: :eek:
They specialize in disaster and war cleanup, especially involving the petroleum industry and other industries.
It's like being suprised that oil companies hired Red Adair when their oil rigs caught fire.
Of course, the moonbats will soon be saying Bush and Cheney have a weather machine and they're producing hurricanes to get more business for Haliburton.
:rofl :rofl :rofl
-
Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
:rofl :rofl :rofl
Of course, the moonbats will soon be saying Bush and Cheney have a weather machine and they're producing hurricanes to get more business for Haliburton.
:rofl :rofl :rofl
picturing Bush in an underground secret volcano lair, petting a hairless cat and activating a giant "laser"...
-
Originally posted by Spooky
picturing Bush in an underground secret volcano lair, petting a hairless cat and activating a giant "laser"...
Remember H.A.R.R.P.
-
Oh goody, another conspiracy unveiled. Just how did Boosh and Co. manage to get the hurricane to do their bidding? :huh :huh :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
-
anyone got a link to how much Halliburton has ponied up in Charity donations to Katrina ?
I've seen what wal-mart and a few others have given, but not what they have.
-
Reuters reports that companies with a web of connections to the Bush administration are winning the first contracts to rebuild New Orleans. The story notes that the Shaw Group (search) of Baton Rouge, which has been awarded $200 million in clean-up contracts, employs former Bush campaign manager and FEMA director Joe Allbaugh (search) to provide "general business consulting."
The Shaw Group's founder and CEO is J.M. Bernhard of Baton Rouge, Louisiana who is the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party and was co-chairman Governor Kathleen Blanco's transition committee, a fact left out of the Reuters story.
-
Originally posted by Krusher
The Shaw Group's founder and CEO is J.M. Bernhard of Baton Rouge, Louisiana who is the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party and was co-chairman Governor Kathleen Blanco's transition committee, a fact left out of the Reuters story.
:rofl :rofl :rofl
-
We all know that Bush stole the election so his buddy Osama could fly jets into the World Trade Centers, triggering a war with Iraq so his oil buddies could jack up the prices and Haliburton could get bids.................
I am just wondering how he got the weather satellite to create a class 5 huricane to only hit the poor and black people of New Orleans...............
And now Hallibuton is awarded a contract in New Orleans?
That is too just too much
I am beginning to be a non believer
Tapakeg
-
Originally posted by Krusher
Reuters reports....The story notes that the Shaw Group (search) of Baton Rouge, which has been awarded $200 million in clean-up contracts, ....
And it was Clay Shaw of New Orleans who NO DA Jim Garrison prosecuted for conspiracy to kill JFK...
Wheels within wheels....
-
And it was Clay Shaw of New Orleans who NO DA Jim Garrison prosecuted for conspiracy to kill JFK...
Everyone knows Gary Oldman shot Kennedy............ let it rest
-
That's what they want you to believe... or are you "they"?
-
I'm willing to bet that if they uncovered a video tape of the signing of a contract with the notorized signatures of Bush, Cheney and Rove guarenteeing every government job to their cronies you guys would'nt believe it.
-
Originally posted by tapakeg
Everyone knows Gary Coleman shot Kennedy............ let it rest
corrected
-
Originally posted by rpm
I'm willing to bet that if they uncovered a video tape of the signing of a contract with the notorized signatures of Bush, Cheney and Rove guarenteeing every government job to their cronies you guys would'nt believe it.
Considering it's barely 1% of the total contract (IE the first 10 Billion dollars they approved) I wouldn't go into hissy fit mode. Cmon 1%.....yea they're cashin in all right.
But the Shaw Contract. HOW DARE THEY HIRE SOMONE OUT OF BATON ROUGE!!!!! :furious
-
I'm nowhere near hissy fit mode, just not surprised Halibuton gets their foot in the door first. I'd prefer to see the government contracts go to companies based in the south where they need the money before they go lining more of Haliburton's pockets with my tax dollars. Haliburton will make plenty enough private dollars rebuilding the oil platforms in the Gulf without suckling at the government teat once again.
-
Originally posted by rpm
I'd prefer to see the government contracts go to companies based in the south where they need the money before they go lining more of Haliburton's pockets with my tax dollars.
Agreed, but wouldn't you agree this is a job that needs to be done quickly and correctly? Who can reasonably compete with the end state and timeline Haliburton can deliver?
While it would be nice to see Haliburton face some serious competition, this disaster recovery seems like an inappropriate time to practice some form of corporate affirmative action. It's time to hire the right man for the job, even if he's a friend of Dubya.
-
Originally posted by rpm
I'm nowhere near hissy fit mode, just not surprised Halibuton gets their foot in the door first. I'd prefer to see the government contracts go to companies based in the south where they need the money before they go lining more of Haliburton's pockets with my tax dollars. Haliburton will make plenty enough private dollars rebuilding the oil platforms in the Gulf without suckling at the government teat once again.
Like the shaw group who got double the size of contract than Haliburton and is based out of Baton Rouge? ;)
-
Originally posted by Krusher
Reuters reports that companies with a web of connections to the Bush administration are winning the first contracts to rebuild New Orleans. The story notes that the Shaw Group (search) of Baton Rouge, which has been awarded $200 million in clean-up contracts, employs former Bush campaign manager and FEMA director Joe Allbaugh (search) to provide "general business consulting."
The Shaw Group's founder and CEO is J.M. Bernhard of Baton Rouge, Louisiana who is the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party and was co-chairman Governor Kathleen Blanco's transition committee, a fact left out of the Reuters story.
If this is so this shouldnt surprise anybody.
Just check out your local munincipalities for more of the same.
You really think that road paving company repaving your street got the contract cause he gave a really good pricequote?
LOL that may happen from time to time but it certainly isnt the norm.
Same thing only on a higher level
Last week when this story first broke one of my brother in laws who is a Bush hater was moaning and groaning the same thing.
Now he has a contracting company and has one of our larger townships all locked up.
I just smiled at him and Said "Hmm kinda like how you got your contract huh"
He shut right up cause he knows I know EXACTLY how he got his big contract.
and trust me it wasnt on the up & up.
Guy is a real lowlife,always has been. And I know its only a matter of time before he gets caught up in something dirty.
I cant wait for it to happen but Im biding my time waiting to savor the moment when it does. Cause it couldnt happen to a person that deserves it more.
Im thinking that will be a good time to also let him know about the affair his wife is having with the cop the next town over.
Why? Because I owe him one. Payback is a beotch and revenge is a dish best served cold:D
-
Note to self: don't show incriminating photos to Dred.
-
Originally posted by VOR
Note to self: don't show incriminating photos to Dred.
Naaa I normaly as a rule dont hold serious grudges. Its usually not worth it. And you have to have done something pretty funky and unforgivable for me to do so.
To date there are only two. Him and one other dating back to when I was a kid about 25 years ago.
But when I do hold em I hold em. And Im very patient:D
-
Originally posted by Gunslinger
Like the shaw group who got double the size of contract than Haliburton and is based out of Baton Rouge? ;)
I'm sure there are 1000 companies in La, Miss and Bama that would be able to do just as good a job as Haliburton. Their employees probably need the jobs a lot worse, too. If Haliburton is the only construction company that can do a decent job, this country is in much worse shape than I care to think.
-
Originally posted by rpm
I'm sure there are 1000 companies in La, Miss and Bama that would be able to do just as good a job as Haliburton. Their employees probably need the jobs a lot worse, too. If Haliburton is the only construction company that can do a decent job, this country is in much worse shape than I care to think.
Dunno. If it is true what Hilts says that " They specialize in disaster and war cleanup, especially involving the petroleum industry and other industries."
How many could there be with those kind of qualifications?
I heard a report on the radio th other day saying they are finding things in that water they cant even identify.
Dont think you can hand out cleanup contracts like that to just anyone. Not to mention the sheer magnitude of the situation. I dont think you cant just have 100 different companies doing the work either or we would probably end up with another debacle like what happened with the aid situation.
Would also make for difficult accountability when one or some comapies try to cut corners in order to pad profit and/or not do everything they are supposed to.
I do however beleive that economically in the effected area this disaster will turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Economically speaking.
There is going to be lots and lots of building and rebuilding that is going to come from this for years to come. That means jobs. Lots and lots of jobs.
-
Originally posted by rpm
I'm sure there are 1000 companies in La, Miss and Bama that would be able to do just as good a job as Haliburton. Their employees probably need the jobs a lot worse, too. If Haliburton is the only construction company that can do a decent job, this country is in much worse shape than I care to think.
I am sure there are 1000 companies in LA, Miss and Bama who do not have the man power because their employees don't have houses anymore OR that their infastructure was wiped out by the hurricane.
;)
PS
Haliburton is like VOLT or any other contractor. They do not have large emplyee base of tradesmen they usually hire alot of those locally.
-
More BS flowing through the national media. I want to a Home Depot today. First question asked to me when I walked in the door "Do you want to work here?" Want to a Breaux Mart supermarket - big sign "WE NEED WORKERS." Buses are going through neighborhoods looking for workers. Its a workers market. There are more jobs than workers. There are very few people left in the New Olreans area, and companies are desparate for workers. No one is gonna be screwing workers because all they have to do is walk a half a block down to where they will be appreciated. More BS by our wonderful lieing media.
-
Originally posted by Wolfala
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/10/katrina.contracts.reut/
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Companies with ties to the Bush White House and the former head of FEMA are clinching some of the administration's first disaster relief and reconstruction contracts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
At least two major corporate clients of lobbyist Joe Allbaugh, President Bush's former campaign manager and a former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, have already been tapped to start recovery work along the battered Gulf Coast.
One is Shaw Group Inc. and the other is Halliburton Co. subsidiary Kellogg Brown and Root. Vice President Dick Cheney is a former head of Halliburton.
Bechtel National Inc., a unit of San Francisco-based Bechtel Corp., has also been selected by FEMA to provide short-term housing for people displaced by the hurricane. Bush named Bechtel's CEO to his Export Council and put the former CEO of Bechtel Energy in charge of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
Experts say it has been common practice in both Republican and Democratic administrations for policy makers to take lobbying jobs once they leave office, and many of the same companies seeking contracts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina have already received billions of dollars for work in Iraq.
Halliburton alone has earned more than $9 billion. Pentagon audits released by Democrats in June showed $1.03 billion in "questioned" costs and $422 million in "unsupported" costs for Halliburton's work in Iraq.
Watchdog groups take notice
But the web of Bush administration connections is attracting renewed attention from watchdog groups in the post-Katrina reconstruction rush. Congress 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 private commercial interests," said Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight.
Bush appointees at Halliburton
Allbaugh formally registered as a lobbyist for Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown and Root in February.
In lobbying disclosure forms filed with the Senate, Allbaugh said his goal was to "educate the congressional and executive branch on defense, disaster relief and homeland security issues affecting Kellogg Brown and Root."
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 lobbying responsibilities."
Allbaugh is also a friend of Michael Brown, director of FEMA who was removed as head of Katrina disaster relief and sent back to Washington amid allegations he had padded his resume -- which he denies.
A few months after Allbaugh was hired by Halliburton, the company retained another high-level Bush appointee, Kirk Van Tine.
Van Tine registered as a lobbyist for Halliburton six months after resigning as deputy transportation secretary, a position he held from December 2003 to December 2004.
On Friday, Kellogg Brown & Root received $29.8 million in Pentagon contracts to begin rebuilding Navy bases in Louisiana and Mississippi. Norcross said the work was covered under a contract that the company negotiated before Allbaugh was hired.
Cheney's relationship with Halliburton
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 Republican ticket for the White House. According to tax filings released in April, Cheney's income included $194,852 in deferred pay from the company, 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 contract for housing management and construction. Shaw also clinched a $100 million order on Friday from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Shaw Group spokesman Chris Sammons said Allbaugh was providing the company with "general consulting on business matters," and would not say whether he played a direct role in any of the Katrina deals. "We don't comment on specific consulting activities," he said.
Why do you post in here? IN!
Karaya
-
Don't your shoulders hurt from all this patting on the back? heh.
-
LOL, find a company with the credentials of Halliburton to complete a job of this magnitude. Then go back to your corner when you realise there are none.
Oh, and keep in mind the amount of sub-contracts that will goto local companies from Halliburton. But thats not money in the local area at all. :rolleyes:
-
Originally posted by Bodhi
LOL, find a company with the credentials of Halliburton to complete a job of this magnitude. Then go back to your corner when you realise there are none.
Oh, and keep in mind the amount of sub-contracts that will goto local companies from Halliburton. But thats not money in the local area at all. :rolleyes:
There isn't one.
Every president from Kennedy to Bush has used Halliburton.
-
Originally posted by Maverick
Oh goody, another conspiracy unveiled. Just how did Boosh and Co. manage to get the hurricane to do their bidding? :huh :huh :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
That's not what people are arguing. They are saying that Bush et al. are using the crisis caused by the hurricane to pad their friends bank balances. No need to twist arguement.
-
Originally posted by Thrawn
That's not what people are arguing. They are saying that Bush et al. are using the crisis caused by the hurricane to pad their friends bank balances. No need to twist arguement.
No need to twist the arguement either Thrawn. The contract represents a shocking 1 percent 1% of all funds approved by congress thus far.
Padding bank accounts indeed.
-
Sidenote. I thought Cheney promised to sell off his stock once it reached the point where he would no longer lose money by selling it off. I see HAL is way over the value that he got it for.
$64 currently
$55ish where Cheney would cease to lose money on the sale.
Anyone got a link to his "promise" to sell??
-
Originally posted by Gunslinger
No need to twist the arguement either Thrawn. The contract represents a shocking 1 percent 1% of all funds approved by congress thus far.
Padding bank accounts indeed.
That's interesting to know. But for clarification, it wasn't an arguement I was making. ;)
-
Originally posted by Gunslinger
No need to twist the arguement either Thrawn. The contract represents a shocking 1 percent 1% of all funds approved by congress thus far.
What's 1% of 51 billion?
-
Originally posted by Nash
What's 1% of 51 billion?
try 1 % of 10 billion, the first amount congress approved. It's .001% of 51 billion.
-
Jesious - I had no idea. How do these people eat?
-
Originally posted by Nash
Jesious - I had no idea. How do these people eat?
well when talking about a then $10B now $100B contract $100 million is really pocket change.
-
Sure it is.
-
They shoulda gone to Lucky Eddie's Residential Plumbing, City Draining & Levee Repair. Those guys could handle this easy.
-
Originally posted by Toad
They shoulda gone to Lucky Eddie's Residential Plumbing, City Draining & Levee Repair. Those guys could handle this easy.
exactly Toad, well said.
-
Kind of like hiring "Lucky Eddie's computer operating system and networking solutions" to run the defense department computers.
-
Originally posted by Raider179
Sidenote. I thought Cheney promised to sell off his stock once it reached the point where he would no longer lose money by selling it off. I see HAL is way over the value that he got it for.
$64 currently
$55ish where Cheney would cease to lose money on the sale.
Anyone got a link to his "promise" to sell??
The more Cheney makes on his stock options, the richer charities will get. He gave all future profits to charity before he took office. You guys really should get a clue who your vice president is. I know its makes some of you feel good to point out that he worked for Haliburton, but he dosn't work there now got it?
Factcheck.org
Stock Options
That still would leave the possibility that Cheney could profit from his Halliburton stock options if the company's stock rises in value. However, Cheney and his wife Lynne have assigned any future profits from their stock options in Halliburton and several other companies to charity. And we're not just taking the Cheney's word for this -- we asked for a copy of the legal agreement they signed, which we post here publicly for the first time.
The "Gift Trust Agreement" the Cheney's signed two days before he took office turns over power of attorney to a trust administrator to sell the options at some future time and to give the after-tax profits to three charities. The agreement specifies that 40% will go to the University of Wyoming (Cheney's home state), 40% will go to George Washington University's medical faculty to be used for tax-exempt charitable purposes, and 20% will go to Capital Partners for Education , a charity that provides financial aid for low-income students in Washington, DC to attend private and religious schools.
The agreement states that it is "irrevocable and may not be terminated, waived or amended," so the Cheney's can't take back their options later.
-
The irritating issue for me is not who gets the contract, it is the fact that everyone seems to think that the rebuilding of private property should be in any way funded by the taxpayers in the first place. If any homeowner or proprietor want to hire Eddie's Pluming and Computers or Haliburton I don't care, it is their money. But I don't want one red cent of my tax money repairing a single window pane.
If the repairs on the city hall are required then the citizens of that city need to pay, same with the levies. Interstate highways should be a 50-50 proposition.
-
So, I'm guessing that you don't think we-the-Federal-government should rebuild the multi-million dollar resort homes on the Carolina Outer Banks for those poor storm victims either?
You.
Are.
So.
Cruel.