reporter: the pentagon budget has nearly doubled since 9/11. the department will spend $721 billion in fiscal year 2011. $6,110 for every u.s. household and employs 2.3 million people. a recent report from the special inspector general for iraq gave examples of how the defense department still overpays for things civilian can purchase in a hardware store for a fraction of the cost. the military paid contractors $900 for control switch valued at $7.05. $700 for plumbing equipment valued at $1.41. $4,500 for circuit breaker valued at $183.30. the pentagon argues it s already started making cuts in the pending fiscal year 2011 budget proposal it ends the c-17 plane production and stops pursuit of a second engine for the joint strike
government is misleading the u.s. people according to the general for iraq reconstruction. they singled a dubai-based contractor with an office in the dc area. he charged $900 for a control switch worth 7.05 . a 4500 dollars for a $183 circuit breaker . overbilling 4.4 million. you are in the middle of the war wrone and procedures are short circuited in order to deliver the product. that is not excusing it and that s why the congress set up the inspector general s office. he denied it all. telling fox news. these conclusions are false without legal and factial justification. everything was approved by the u.s. government. he said it is a summer of
what about these contractors in iraq and what kind of forms of abuse are in the report? overcharging the government as you said, the report singles out one company, based in northern virginia and the subcontractors, the report says the government was charged $900 for a control switch, valued at $7.05. and $75 for a piece of plumbing equipment, valued at $1.41. and, $4500 for a circuit breaker that you could buy for $183.30. and, there has been no official response to the charges from the company and, susan collins, senator from maine, weighed in on this saying the state department refused to provide documentation to help the inspector general in its investigation and she calls all of this absolutely unacceptable. bill? indeed. steve centanni, thanks, in washington. what s coming up, jenna? lawmakers as we said are inching closer to a possible
increase in rockets launched against the green zone where the embassies are located. and, constant assassination attempts on top of that, all in all, not a great picture, bill? what about these contractors in iraq and what kind of forms of abuse are in the report? overcharging the government as you said, the report singles out one company, based in northern virginia and the subcontractors, the report says the government was charged $900 for a control switch, valued at $7.05. and $75 for a piece of plumbing equipment, valued at $1.41. and, $4500 for a circuit breaker that you could buy for $183.30. and, there has been no official response to the charges from the company and, susan collins, senator from maine, weighed in on this saying the state department refused to provide documentation to help the inspector general in its investigation and she calls all of this absolutely unacceptable. bill? indeed.
steve has the details. contractors bilking the u.s. government and the government is misleading the u.s. people according to the general for iraq reconstruction. they singled a dubai-based contractor with an office in the dc area. he charged $900 for a control switch worth 7.05 . a 4500 dollars for a $183 circuit breaker . overbilling 4.4 million. you are in the middle of the war wrone and procedures are short circuited in order to deliver the product. that is not excusing it and that s why the congress set up the inspector general s office. he denied it all. telling fox news. these conclusions are false