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Waxman vows more oversight on procurement
FCW.com ^ | 12 June 2007 | Matthew Weigelt

Posted on 06/13/2007 11:09:51 AM PDT by COBOL2Java

Although he stopped short of calling the federal procurement system broken, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said today the system is inaccurate and unhelpful. Waxman blamed the former Republican-led Congress for neglecting oversight.

Waxman, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, vowed to have that panel review contracting regulations.

“We have seen a dramatic increase in procurement contracts in the government in all areas,” Waxman said in a speech at the Security Industry Association's 2007 Government Summit in Washington. But, he said, “a strong part of the ideology of this [the Bush] administration is to contract out.”

“In my mind, the important thing is that our contracting rules need to be clear, fair and fast,” he said. “We need to make sure that our efforts in this area are accountable [and] that there’s integrity in the contracting process.”

Waxman has introduced legislation to make contracting more accountable. The House passed his Accountability in Contracting Act by a wide margin in March, but the Senate has not moved on it. He also helped with the House’s passage of the Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act, which would break up bundled contracts because they leave small businesses out of competition.

Waxman is also emphasizing his increased oversight of the Bush Administration. For example, committee hearings have delved into alleged misconduct at the General Services Administration, specifically by its administrator, Lurita Doan. The Office of Special Counsel found that Doan violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits political activity done to be done in a federal building or on government time.

Doan will testify June 13 before Waxman’s committee for the second time. She has said the investigation was slanted.

In his speech, Waxman said the additional oversight is necessary because accountability has been forgotten. The previous Republican-led Congress, which investigated the Clinton administration in the 1990s over scandals, shrugged off its oversight responsibilities when Bush took over the White House in 2001, Waxman said.

Following the “wild tension between a Republican Congress and a Democratic administration…the Republican Congress decided that there wasn’t a scandal too big enough for them to ignore,” he said.

“They didn’t want to embarrass their own administration,” Waxman said. “So they decided to be good Republicans first and the leaders of an independent branch of government second. I think they made a mistake. They did a disservice.”


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: nostrilitis

Congressman Nostrilitis


1 posted on 06/13/2007 11:09:53 AM PDT by COBOL2Java
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To: COBOL2Java

If he digs deeper he will find illegal sales to China Prior to 2000.


2 posted on 06/13/2007 11:11:35 AM PDT by golfisnr1 (Democrats are like roaches - hard to get rid of.)
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To: COBOL2Java
Meanwhile....

Hill GOP: Earmark reforms 'gutted'

3 posted on 06/13/2007 11:12:15 AM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: golfisnr1

Wax Man is a total Socialist and IMHO hates America....what ever he is for I am against....

Meadow Muffin


4 posted on 06/13/2007 11:12:51 AM PDT by rwgal
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To: COBOL2Java

“And the chairman also plans to something about his nose hairs.”

Golly, what a relief!


5 posted on 06/13/2007 11:15:31 AM PDT by RexBeach
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To: COBOL2Java

Man, you could hanger a B52 in those nostrils!


6 posted on 06/13/2007 11:16:21 AM PDT by llevrok (“No more nice guys in the WH! I want a real SOB in there!” - R. Limbaugh)
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To: COBOL2Java

Translation: “From now on, the contracts are going to our donors and nephews, not yours!”


7 posted on 06/13/2007 11:16:28 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: COBOL2Java
He's a handsome devil.

I got the devil part right.

8 posted on 06/13/2007 11:17:43 AM PDT by GFritsch ('All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved'." -)
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To: COBOL2Java

Porky PIG strikes again!

Abbbabaa thats not all folks!


9 posted on 06/13/2007 11:18:01 AM PDT by hophead ("Enjoy Every Sandwich")
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To: COBOL2Java

What does he use to trim his nosehair with - a weed whacker?


10 posted on 06/13/2007 11:18:39 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (I'm Fred, White and Blue!)
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To: golfisnr1

I think January 2001 will be about as deep as they intend to dig...around the 20th day, 12:01 PM.


11 posted on 06/13/2007 11:20:10 AM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Did Dennis Kucinich always look like that or did he have to submit to a series of shots? [firehat])
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To: COBOL2Java

Perhaps Waxman can lower Congress’ approval level to single digits...


12 posted on 06/13/2007 11:27:21 AM PDT by pabianice
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To: COBOL2Java

Waxman is my congressman.

My previous one was Rostenkowski.

I’m cursed.


13 posted on 06/13/2007 11:27:54 AM PDT by mgstarr (KZ-6090 Smith W.)
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To: COBOL2Java
Federal procurement is what keeps me employed.

Go federal spending! Especially on aircraft engines.

14 posted on 06/13/2007 11:29:29 AM PDT by CT-Freeper (Said the perpetually dejected Mets fan.)
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To: COBOL2Java

Nice photo. I knew I shouldn’t have read this thread at lunchtime. :(


15 posted on 06/13/2007 11:51:02 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: COBOL2Java
Congressman Nostrilitis

My husband has named him "Super Snout".

16 posted on 06/13/2007 4:20:00 PM PDT by Rollee (Maybe the only purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others.)
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To: COBOL2Java

Waxman can hardly find more oversight. He is already oversighting everything oversightable.


17 posted on 06/13/2007 4:21:55 PM PDT by RightWhale (Repeal the Treaty)
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