Lynn C. Woolsey: “for nearly 3 months, the Bush administration has flatly refused to cooperate with the United Nations- sanctioned…”

“for nearly 3 months, the Bush administration has flatly refused to cooperate with the United Nations- sanctioned auditors examining the contracts provided to companies like Halliburton for services in Iraq. President Bush's government has withheld pertinent information from the U.N.'s International Advisory and Monitoring Board which was specifically tasked to ensure that Iraq's oil revenues would be managed responsibly during the United States occupation and for as long as American and other companies work on reconstruction jobs in Iraq. Halliburton, my colleagues may remember, is the Texas-based oil company that has received over $1 billion in lucrative contracts from the United States for the reconstruction of Iraq, and they have never had to place a single bid for these contracts. Years ago, the Pentagon established the practice of allowing private companies to bid on various projects, rewarding the most qualified company willing to complete a given project for the lowest price with a highly sought after government contract. Mr. Speaker, this practice was good for American companies, while, through competition, also kept prices down, ensuring that American taxpayers did not get fleeced in the process. The Pentagon, under the shoddy supervision of the Bush White House, has all but disregarded this process in 4 short years.”