Federal Grant for a Medical Mission Goes Awry(2 Cutters given to Faith Based Group)

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

In theory, it was simple: Congress gave two decommissioned Coast Guard cutters to a faith-based group in California, directing that the ships be used only to provide medical services to islands in the South Pacific.

Coast Guard records show that the ships have been providing those services in the South Pacific since the medical mission took possession of them in 1999.

In reality, the ships never got any closer to the South Pacific islands than the San Francisco Bay. The mission group quickly sold one to a maritime equipment company, which sold it for substantially more to a pig farmer who uses it as a commercial ferry off Nicaragua. The group sold the other ship to a Bay Area couple who rent it for eco-tours and marine research.

The gift of the two cutters was one of almost 900 grants Congress has made to faith-based organizations since 1987 through the use of provisions, called earmarks, that are tucked into bills to bypass normal government review and bidding procedures.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/13/business/13cutter.html?em&ex=1181880000&en=c2ce4ac92ddd87c8&ei=5087%0A

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The White Holly cutter approaching the Golden Gate Bridge.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Disgusting! Why is it that the GOP thinks 'oversight' is evil?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. Interesting.

This is quite a can of worms that's been opened.

Did they have a right to flip the ships? If so, the money would have to have been spent on the medical mission of the organization and not on evangelism. However, there's no clear audit trail of the proceeds from the boats.

This could very well be a constitutional violation.

[Spangle]

5. Exact; what I was thinking

If they didn't keep to the contract to provide medical services, then they voided the contract. The ships should revert to being US property. Any and all extra moneys made should also be reverted to the US Government.

[Nickster]

3. My, what an interesting way to launder money from Congress to "faith" based groups.

[Journeyman]

4. I have a lot of faith in my ability to "flip" a ship. . .

wonder if I can get a free cutter, too?

[benld74]

6. Hey, I got faith, where's my money?