Senate Dems hold hearing on Iraq contract abuses; Whistleblower Bunny Greenhouse will testify!

[babylonsister]

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=47918

SENATE DEMOCRATS TO HOLD FRIDAY HEARING ON IRAQ CONTRACT ABUSES

National Whistleblower Center
(WebWire) 9/18/2007 9:29:18 AM

Former Top U.S. Contracting Official among Witnesses

Washington D.C. September 17, 2007. The Senate Democratic Policy Committee has announced that it will hear testimony this Friday regarding abuses by government contractors during the Iraq War. The hearing, entitled “The Mistreatment of Iraq Contracting Whistleblowers,” will focus on the experiences of the employee-whistleblowers who report contractor misconduct, and will include significant information about Iraqi contracting abuses. The hearing will be held in the Dirksen Senate Building, room 226 at 10:30 AM.

Among those scheduled to testify is Bunnatine Greenhouse, who served as the top civilian contracting officer for the Army Corps of Engineers until she was demoted in retaliation for her opposition to “casual and clubby” contracting practices in the run-up to the War. Ms. Greenhouse has described a controversial five year, no-bid, multi-billion dollar contract awarded to Halliburton/KBR in 2003 as “the most blatant and improper contracting abuse I have witnessed during the course of my professional career.”

Also testifying will be Stephen M. Kohn, President of the National Whistleblower Center and co-counsel for Ms. Greenhouse.

---------------------------------------

Established in 1988, The National Whistleblower Center is a public interest organization dedicated to supporting employee whistleblowers. The Center non-profit and non-partisan, and does not endorse candidates for public office.

FYI: Nothing on C-SPAN scheduling yet. ?

[izzie]

1. Gee I thought the GOP already got these whistle blower put in jail

Have we ever had a time when more people, who tell the news, have been put into the hot seat, as with Bush? When did loyalty to a person over- step loyalty to our constitutions? Must be the power thing that sucks so many people in. I would like to watch this one on c-span.

[MiniMe]

2. Hmmmm, don't see it on Capitol Hearings either

I looked at the Senate website, there is no Senate Policy committee. That hearing room usually belongs to the Judiciary Committee, but I don't see it on their website either. Might have to keep an eye out for it.

[NI4NI]

3. Yesterday on C-Span WJ Jeremy Scahill said he would be testifying also n/t

[babylonsister]

5. Yes, but would that be for this? I know Waxman is going to be holding

hearings soon about Blackwater, so I though Scahill would be called up for that.:shrug:

[NI4NI]

16. You're probably right, I may have misheard him.

Blackwater deserves it's own specific hearing, anyway. It has some 'splainin' to do more about alleged murders than abuses.
I wonder how long before Blackwater will be hired and used against dissenting groups of Americans, movements, unions, etc.; including an assassination or two.

[cascadiance]

17. STILL waiting for Waxman to talk to Sibel!

It's great that Ms. Greathouse is being heard (and hopefully it's not kept from us the public), but Sibel is the one that America needs to hear TODAY!

[MiniMe]

4. I think I found the committee, it is a sub committee

The dems on this sub-committee looks strong

Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights

Jurisdiction: (1) Oversight of antitrust law and competition policy, including the Sherman, Clayton and Federal Trade Commission Acts; (2) Oversight of antitrust enforcement and competition policy at the Justice Department; (3) Oversight of antitrust enforcement and competition policy at the Federal Trade Commission; (4) Oversight of competition policy at other federal agencies.
Membership: (6:5)

Democratic Members

Herb Kohl, WI (Chair)
Patrick J. Leahy, VT
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., DE
Russell D. Feingold, WI
Charles E. Schumer, NY
Benjamin L. Cardin, MD

Republican Members

Orrin G. Hatch, UT (Ranking Member)
Arlen Specter, PA
Charles E. Grassley, IA
Sam Brownback, KS
Tom Coburn, OK


SENIOR STAFF
Jeffrey Miller, Democratic Chief Counsel
William Castle, Republican Counsel
U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

[babylonsister]

6. Hmmm. Competition policy might fit, but not so sure about

consumer rights. Thanks for trying to find this. If I see any further info, I'll post it, too.

Edit to add: it's going to be held in the Dirksen Senate Bldg, Rom 226, per this:


http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0917-18.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2007
3:32 PM


CONTACT: National Whistleblowers Center
Stephen Kohn [phone]
Marshall Chriswell [phone]

Senate Democrats To Hold Friday Hearing On Iraq Contractor Abuses
Former Top U.S. Contracting Official among Witnesses


WASHINGTON - September 17 - The Senate Democratic Policy Committee has announced that it will hear testimony this Friday regarding abuses by government contractors during the Iraq War. The hearing, entitled “The Mistreatment of Iraq Contracting Whistleblowers,” will focus on the experiences of the employee-whistleblowers who report contractor misconduct, and will include significant information about Iraqi contracting abuses. The hearing will be held in the Dirksen Senate Building, room 226.

Among those scheduled to testify is Bunnatine Greenhouse, who served as the top civilian contracting officer for the Army Corps of Engineers until she was demoted in retaliation for her opposition to “casual and clubby” contracting practices in the run-up to the War. Ms. Greenhouse has described a controversial five year, no-bid, multi-billion dollar contract awarded to Halliburton/KBR in 2003 as “the most blatant and improper contracting abuse I have witnessed during the course of my professional career.”

Also testifying will be Stephen M. Kohn, President of the National Whistleblower Center and co-counsel for Ms. Greenhouse.

Links:

Official Hearing Advisory

Established in 1988, The National Whistleblower Center is a public interest organization dedicated to supporting employee whistleblowers. The Center non-profit and non-partisan, and does not endorse candidates for public office.

For more information, please visit www.whistleblowers.org.

[MiniMe]

7. Yes, and Dirkson 226 usually belongs to the Judiciary Committee

That is what made me look for a sub-committee.

[babylonsister]

8. Here's a hearing notice from whistleblowers' website (it's a .pdf):

http://www.whistleblowers.org/hearing_advisory_for_092107_hearing.pdf

"The Mistreatment of Contract Whistleblowers"
Friday, Sept. 21, 10:30-12:30, 226 Dirksen Bldg

Again, no mentioned if it will be televised.

[MiniMe]

9. You can get audio here

Just click on the room number

http://www.capitolhearings.org/

[babylonsister]

10. Thank you! nt

[MiniMe]

11. I found the video link

It is on this page: http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/index22.cfm

Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing

"The Lack of Accountability in Private Security and
Reconstruction Contracting in Iraq"

Friday, September 21, 2007
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
226 Dirksen Senate Office Building

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

15. Thank you. Just started to watch but have to go soon. From what I am hearing, I'm not

surprised c-span isn't covering it.

[L. Coyote]

12. K & R - NOTE AAG Keisler is not friend of whistleblowers.

"Keisler testified against extending whistleblower protections using arguments contradicting existing federal statutes..."

From: The NEW Acting Attorney General = Peter Keisler = Who is he? Just a Gonzales CLONE?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1839232


TPMuckracker noted something hidden in the Michael Mukasey announcement: the appointment of Peter Keisler as Acting Attorney General.

8 things you need to know about Peter Keisler:

1. Keisler was a co-founder of the Federalist Society;
2. The Federalist Society was a checkbox in Goodling's evaluation of U. S. Attorneys;
3. Keisler oversaw the Administration's fight against habeas corpus for Guantanamo;
4. Keisler allegedly interfered with the Tobacco conspiracy trial;
5. Keisler received a recess appointment at age 24;
6. Keisler testified against extending whistleblower protections using arguments contradicting existing federal statutes;
7. Keisler defended secrecy for all Warrantless Surveillance info, arguing that even confirmation or denial of its existence threatens national security;
8. Keisler defended the Interior Department in Cobell v. Norton - a tour de force of legal maneuvering and alleged DOJ obstruction of justice.

[MiniMe]

13. The hearing has started,

Video is at this link: http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/index22.cfm

[redqueen]

14. Thanks for posting that.

I can't watch... so anyone who feels like feeding the cube rats, much obliged!