Deepwater flaws draw Congress’ ire

[Mass]

Good to see that we start to have some accountabillity in the House and Senate

Deepwater flaws draw Congress’ ire

By Ana Radelat - Gannett News Service
Posted : Thursday Feb 15, 2007 7:37:36 EST

Senators Wednesday sharply criticized the Coast Guard’s ambitious plan to overhaul its aging fleet of planes and ships and demanded an end to a $24 billion contract that was awarded five years ago to a partnership between Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.

“If I ever saw an example of the fox in the chicken coop, this is it,” said Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a New Jersey Democrat, about alleged abuses by the defense contractors.

A Senate commerce, science and transportation subcommittee hearing Wednesday focused on a new report by the Department of Homeland Security inspector general on failings in converting and modernizing Coast Guard patrol boats. The work was done by Bollinger Shipyards in southern Louisiana.

The Coast Guard’s Deepwater program has been plagued by cost overruns and design problems since the defense contractors — who formed a partnership called Integrated Coast Guard Systems — were awarded the contract in 2002.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., told Adm. Thad Allen that the Coast Guard should rebid the contract when it expires in June.

“Private contractors should not be allowed to feed at the taxpayer trough,” Kerry told the Coast Guard admiral.

...
“This is fleecing of the taxpayer with ships that don’t float,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

....

“This is a troubling period for the Coast Guard,” said Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.

She and other lawmakers Wednesday were outraged about revelations of design flaws in the new National Security Cutter, a ship built in Northrop Grumman’s shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.


Sen. David Vitter, R-La., a champion of the Deepwater program, defended Bollinger’s efforts. He said Bollinger told the Coast Guard the conversion would not work after four of the ships were fitted with new hulls.
...

(Except for a neocon like Vitter, of course)