Limo company gets 21.2 million $ contract to drive around DHS folks (more)

[The Straight Story]

"It's completely bewildering to me that anyone who has this kind of a rap sheet could ever get a penny from the Department of Homeland Security."

-- Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., on a $21.2 million contract DHS awarded last year to a limousine service company now being investigated for possible involvement in the "Duke" Cunningham scandal.

Panel demands better oversight of DHS contractors

By Chris Strohm, CongressDaily
Senior members of the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday called on the Homeland Security Department to increase oversight of its contractors -- and said they are expanding their investigation into whether the department improperly awarded contracts to a limousine service that is under federal investigation for possibly providing prostitutes to public officials.

At a hearing Thursday, Republicans and Democrats alike lashed out at department officials over the five-year, $21.2 million contact awarded last year to Shirlington Limousine and Transportation Inc. of Arlington, Va., to drive senior Homeland Security employees and officials around Washington. The company had previously received a $3.8 million contact from the department in 2004.

The FBI is investigating whether military contractors linked to former Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham, R-Calif., arranged for the company to provide prostitutes for him and other lawmakers. Cunningham pleaded guilty last fall to taking $2.4 million in bribes from military contractors.

House Homeland Security Management Subcommittee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., questioned the department's process for doing background checks on contractors, saying the owner of Shirlington, Christopher Baker, is a felon. Rogers suggested that the department should investigate the backgrounds of executive officers and board directors of small companies before contracts are made.

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=34114&dcn=todaysnews

[benburch]

1. We interrupt this thread for an important announcement!

[phoebe]

2. there is a major report coming out re: staffers who are awash in

junkets provided by lobbyists. Apparently they too haven't been bothering to fill out forms properly that would itemize all the gifts/trips/lunches/pizzas, etc., etc., etc., they have been getting. Wouldn't be surprised if some of the staffers have been making use of Shirlington et al.

This country is awash in corruption especially by those in "powerful" positions..

[Eugene]

3. Homeland Security is a bad joke.

Sadly, the joke's on us. :(

Let me get this straight. As long as the drivers check out,
it's okay for the manager who hires them can be a convicted felon
and land a security sensitive contract with the government.
DHS is f***ed up beyond repair.