DeWine votes against bi-partisan commission to fight corruption in Iraq

DeWine Votes Against Creation of Bi-Partisan Commission to Fight Corruption in Iraq

Second vote in eight days against anti-fraud measures to protect taxpayers' money

AMHERST - Ohio Republican incumbent Senator Mike DeWine voted today against an amendment to reduce corruption in Iraq - his second vote in eight days against cracking down on contractors in Iraq wasting taxpayer money.

A U.S. Department of Defense audit found that $250 million in taxpayer money had gone to Halliburton for "unreasonable and unsupported" expenses [New York Times, 2/27/06]. Halliburton, which has received more than $7 billion in no-bid government contracts since the beginning of the Iraq war, has been the subject of an FBI investigation [Washington Post, 11/9/04].

"Once again, Mike DeWine has chosen the side of Halliburton and the White House instead of standing up for Ohio families and our military," said Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain County). "Last week, he voted against tighter protections on contract abuse. Today, he voted against a bipartisan commission to crack down on fraud. Instead of accountability, Mike DeWine chose pay-to-play politics as usual."

The proposal, introduced by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), would have created a special bipartisan Senate committee to investigate corruption and fraud in Iraq. The committee, modeled on the Truman Commission that saved $15 billion in taxpayer dollars during World War II, would be empowered to hold hearings and issue subpoenas. The majority party would appoint four of the seven committee members, and the minority party would appoint the other three.

Dorgan's proposal was blocked by a 52-44 vote [S.Amdt. 4292 to S. 2766, 6/20/06, #176].

"Harry Truman stood up to a president of his own party to fight contract abuse during World War II, and saved taxpayers billions," Brown said. "But after three years of war in Iraq, Mike DeWine still won't stand up to President Bush or his friends at Halliburton. Ohio families need a new direction."

Halliburton has donated $12,500 in campaign contributions to DeWine since 1992, including $2,000 this election cycle.

Brown, who opposed the war in Iraq, has stood up against corruption and fraud in Iraq throughout the war. He co-sponsored measures to restrict no-bid contracts in Iraq and require improved reporting to Congress on Iraq contracting [H.R. 3275], and to require an audit of every Defense Department Iraq contract [H.R. 4351].

On October 25, 2004, Brown sent a letter to the president urging him to require more verification of expenses for Halliburton in Iraq.

"Ohio families deserve a senator who fights for their interests, not for special interests," Brown said. "Ohio taxpayers should not have to pay for contract abuse and fraud."