The tally for Hurricane Katrina waste could top $2 billion next
year because half of the lucrative government contracts valued
at $500,000 or greater for cleanup work are being awarded with
little competition.
Federal investigators already have determined the Bush
administration squandered $1 billion on fraudulent disaster aid
to individuals after the 2005 storm.
Now they are shifting their attention to the multimillion-dollar
contracts to politically connected firms that critics have long said
are a prime area for abuse.
Investigators are examining whether some of the agreements —
which in some cases were extended without warning rather than
rebid — are still unfairly benefiting large firms.
SOURCE:
Seattle Times
Katrina was a disaster on many levels, arguably different aspects
more so than others, but the sheer amount of wasted money that
should have gone to helping the victims immediately after Katrina
and the subsequent rebuilding of ives afterwards is truly deplorable.
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