Claire McCaskill

Will the PSC be afforded diplomatic status? If not, what legal protections will exist?

Ambassador Jeffrey, what metrics have been put in place to ensure that the government is only paying for legitimate charges?

Ambassador Jeffrey, are these personnel government or contractors?

I think that this is one of those areas where we've got to be careful because there are areas of government where the investment that we make comes back.

The biggest lie that was ever told to me as we went into a state agency to audit was, gosh, we are glad to see you.

Clearly, it is the best example I can think of. Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) by and large, there was a co-opting of the contracting officers.

Like looking at the competitor's fact sheet on the joint tanker competition?

I do not think we need a hotline to figure out that there may be a little bit of over marketing...

If I could just make sure that the Defense Department had as many fixed-price contracts as you have, I would be a happy camper.

Who is doing the audits now?

I do not want businesses to feel like they are being punished for doing business with the Federal Government.

We probably did a lot of 'C's where I was because I like doing some of the smaller programs.

I think there is a fine line between cooperation and being co-opted.

To say that Mr. Fitzgerald had a challenge is an understatement.

This hearing is an important step. We need an independent and muscular contract audit agency that protects the taxpayer.

Like we did for the IGs?

I am really not excited about creating a new agency even if it is auditing.

I think legitimate points have been raised by both Mr. Hoe and Mr. Schwellenbach.

I do not think you are going to see much expansion of either one of your departments.

Yes. We had a hard time. We have a hard time.

I think technology that is available now, as long as we do not create a new agency to do this technology, if we could effectively and efficiently access the technology that is out there right now, I think we could save a lot of man-hours…

I do not think that explains monogramming the towels. That is not consistent with getting in there quickly.

I think many times those pre-award audits have what I would call a deterrent effect because everyone who is out there competing for Federal contracts it gives them a heads up that somebody is going to be paying attention to their numbers…

I think this is a huge point that needs to be made here.

I will make one bold statement here. That would never happen in the private sector, ever, ever, ever happen in the private sector.