“When it comes to Iraq, John Kline is handing over blank checks. When it comes to Minnesota’s needs, he’s nowhere to be found,” Says Sarvi

June 19, 2008

EAGAN, Minn. – In the wake of another story of Iraq funding mismanagement (“Army Overseer Tells of Ouster Over KBR Stir,” New York Times, 6/17/08), Democratic congressional candidate Steve Sarvi (MN-02) called Rep. John Kline to account for failing to exercise oversight of the more than $529 billion the United States has spent in Iraq.

Said Sarvi, “In the Humvee I drove in Iraq, the window fell out when I slammed the door. Abuses such as those outlined in the New York Times story showcase a congressional and military war on accountability that, sadly, comes as no surprise to those who served. Congressmen like John Kline have failed to make sure the billions they’ve thrown at Iraq are actually giving soldiers the tools they need to stay safe and do their jobs.

“Perhaps even worse, John Kline opposed a crackdown on war profiteering even after the Pentagon’s audit found that Halliburton had over-billed more than $200 million for their work in Iraq. John Kline is willing to give a blank
check to President Bush for Iraq – demanding no results or accountability – but he thinks securing federal funding for critical projects at home, such as failing roads and bridges, is ‘wasteful’ and ‘corrupting.’ It’s outrageous.”

Kline’s Unaccounted-for, Unrestrained Iraq Spending

• $23 Billion May Be Missing in Iraq; Kline Has Said Nothing. “A BBC investigation estimates that around $23 billion may have been lost, stolen or just not properly accounted for in Iraq…. To date, no major US contractor faces trial for fraud or mismanagement in Iraq….Henry Waxman, who chairs the House committee on oversight and government reform, said: ‘The money that's gone into waste, fraud and abuse under these contracts is just so outrageous, it's egregious. It may well turn out to be the largest war profiteering in history.’” (“BBC Uncovers Lost Iraq Billions,” 6/10/08, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7444083.stm?loc=interstitialskip)Contractor
  
• Abuse Is Rampant in Iraq. “[A]ccording to testimony by officials and former employees, the partners… charged the government millions by making out phony invoices to shell companies they controlled…. There was so much money around for contractors, officials literally used $100,000 wads of cash as toys. ‘Yes – $100 bills in plastic wrap…. We played football with the plastic-wrapped bricks for a little while.’” (“The Great Iraq Swindle,” Rolling Stone, 9/6/07; http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/16076312/the_great_iraq_swind...) In the 6/17/08 New York Times piece, the Army official who managed the Pentagon’s largest contract in Iraq claimed he was ousted from his job when he refused to approve paying more than $1 billion in questionable charges to KBR, the Houston-based company that has provided food, housing and other services to American troops (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/washington/17contractor.html?ex=121436...).
• Kline Doesn’t Think Accountability Matters in Iraq, Cares More About Supporting President Bush. In 2007, John Kline voted against legislation that would set benchmarks for success by the Iraqi government as a contingency for releasing requested funds for the war, supporting President Bush’s desire for unfettered funding. (HR 2206, Vote #333, 5/10/2007) With no accountability, there is little incentive for the Iraqi government to make progress. When Congress passed a bill mandating standards of progress in Iraq and setting a goal for redeployment of troops, President Bush vetoed it. John Kline continued following Bush’s failed policies, voting to uphold the veto. (HR 1591, Vote #276, 5/2/2007)
• The Costs of Kline’s Unwavering Support for Bush and the War Are Astronomical. The total economic cost of the war in Iraq is estimated at $1.3 trillion through 2008. Even assuming a moderate drawdown in troop levels, the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (with the vast majority of funds going to Iraq) will amount to $3.5 trillion between 2003 and 2017. For operations between through 2008, the cost to a family of four is $16,500. (Report of the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, 11/132007)
• Minnesota’s 2nd District Suffering Due to Kline’s Refusal to Seek Federal Dollars for Critical Projects. “‘We wish he were in there fighting for those projects,’ [Scott County] Commissioner Jon Ulrich said. Commissioner Barbara Marschall said the collective reaction of the county's leadership after learning of [Kline’s] decision [to stop seeking federal funds for his district] last year was, ‘Now what?’” (“Kline’s spurning off earmarks has cost,” Star Tribune, 1/8/08; http://www.startribune.com/local/south/13548426.html)
• A Comparison of Federal Dollars for State and Local Projects and Iraq Costs – Not Pretty. In fiscal year 2005, federal earmarks directed to Minnesota totaled less than $4.54 billion – well below the national average. The United States’ entire estimated spending in Iraq through 2008 is $1.3 trillion – 28 times the amount of federal earmarks in all 50 states. And according to a BBC investigation, a staggering 17 percent ($23 billion) of Iraq expenditures are estimated to have been lost, stolen or not properly accounted for. While the system for securing federal dollars for state and local projects could benefit from reform, John Kline’s animus against earmarks seems misplaced given relative numbers and his silence on Iraq accountability. (http://earmarks.omb.gov/authorizations-by-state/recipient_state/%5Bmn%5D...)
  

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