Obama reverses Bush policy on Federal contractors

[EraOfResponsibility]

Obama moves to overhaul federal contracting system, reversing Bush administration policyBy PHILIP ELLIOTT | Associated Press Writer
3:25 PM EST, March 4, 2009


WASHINGTON (AP) — Reversing Bush policy, President Barack Obama ordered an overhaul of the way the government hands out contracts Wednesday, promising to curtail no-bid awards that have led to waste, abuse and corruption investigations.

Obama joined Republican Sen. John McCain, his presidential campaign rival, and other lawmakers to announce an executive memorandum that commits his administration to a new set of marching orders for awarding contracts. Obama said "the days of giving defense contractors a blank check are over" and said changes could save up to $40 billion a year.

One area in particular that is targeted is no-bid contracts, which the administration is seeking to change so that there will be more competition for government-paid work.

"Even if these were the best of times, budget reform would be overdue in Washington," Obama said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-obama-waste%2C0%2C5826180.story

[Cha]

1. I saw him on my local tv talking

about this very thing..saving $40 million a year in the budget. He had john mccain behind him on stage with other people I don't recall.

[Cant trust em]

5. Billion with a B, baby!

Not too shabby.

[firedupdem]

2. K & R!

[Ocracoker16]

3. Good, I expected this to happen soon

[DoBotherMe]

4. Does Bunnatine Greenhouse get her job back?

A promotion and an apology. Dana ; )

Bunnatine (Bunny) H. Greenhouse is a former chief contracting officer (Principal Assistant Responsible for Contracting (PARC)) of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. On June 27, 2005, she testified to a Democratic Party public committee, alleging specific instances of waste, fraud, and other abuses and irregularities by Halliburton with regard to its operations in Iraq since the Iraq War. She described one of the Halliburton contracts (secret, no-bid contracts awarded to Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR)—a subsidiary of Halliburton) as "the most blatant and improper contract abuse I have witnessed during the course of my professional career."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunny_Greenhouse

[spanone]

6. C H A N G E ....go Mr. President