Federal Grant for a Medical, Faith-based Mission Goes Awry

[babylonsister]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/13/business/13cutter.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

Federal Grant for a Medical Mission Goes Awry

By DIANA B. HENRIQUES and ANDREW W. LEHREN
Published: June 13, 2007

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.

more...

[knitter4democracy]

1. So, they didn't need it for medical missions?

Then again, it's an odd request. Wouldn't it be better to fly supplies and personnel in than to take a ship all the way across?

[Solly Mack]

2. Hmmm

"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."

So who is fixing the records? If the records show the ships are in use as intended then someone is falsifying the records.

"...it also can give rise to grants that never achieve their intended purpose, with the government never even realizing it. "

Lying and theft by deception never entered into the government's thinking?

Excuse me while I put on my waders.


"The tiny mission is now the lead contractor on a diabetes research program being financed through two $1 million Defense Department contracts. Those grants were directed to Canvasback by Congress through a pair of earmarks"


Uh...uh...

[jwirr]

3. Just on principle all new government programs such as faith-based

programs should be audited to see what is being done with the money. We do that with contracted services here in Minnesota several times a year for any private provider.

[datasuspect]

4. the REAL problem is the katrina fraudsters

they DESERVE to be punished. (sarcasm)

no one really thinks people who secure funding under the guise of religion could do anything wrong, right?

[Roland99]

5. Obviously Nancy Pelosi was behind this.

:sarcasm:

[Supersedeas]

6. turning a Medial Supplies proposal into a cash grab scheme -- faith or $$ based??