Kerry Slam Dunks Cheney-Bush on Halliburton Scandal; Unveils Plan to Prevent More Halliburtons

Kerry slammed Bush-Cheney on the Halliburton scandal, noting Cheney's conflict of interest and Cheney's receiving $2 million from Halliburton since becoming Vice President. The no-bid contracts Halliburton has received total more than $7 billion and a report by the General Accounting Office found instances of possible fraud and waste in almost every area.

Albuquerque, NM, (PRWEB) September 22, 2004 - Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry pledged to move America in a new direction after four years of a president who has put the interests of his well-connected friends ahead of the American people. Offering the example of Halliburton, with its ties to Dick Cheney and the billions in no-bid contracts it has received, Kerry stressed that George Bush has made the wrong choices for America. Kerry outlined the new Kerry-Edwards plan to put an end to Halliburton-type abuses.

We need a Commander in Chief and a Vice President who put the interests of our troops and our taxpayers ahead of their big money friends," Kerry said. We need a president and a vice president who wont sacrifice the taxpayers money on the altar of no bid cronyism while our fighting men and women go without the armor and equipment they need."

Vice President Cheney made millions as the CEO of Halliburton from 1995-2000. He still maintains a financial interest in the company, receiving nearly $2 million since being sworn in. When it came time to give contracts to rebuild Iraqi oil fields, Halliburton was awarded a contract worth up to $7 billion.

In return for employing Cheneys former company, the U.S. taxpayers have gotten waste, fraud and abuse. Halliburtons overcharging has cost American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, and a report by the GAO found significant problems" in nearly every area of the Halliburton contract in Iraq.

It is clear: George W. Bush and Dick Cheney have mismanaged every aspect of the war in Iraq," Kerry said. By blatantly turning a blind eye to the massive overcharging and waste of their friends at Halliburton, they have proven once again why they are the wrong choice, the wrong direction and the wrong leadership for America."

Blasting a system that lets politics interfere with getting taxpayers the best deal and our troops the support they deserve, Kerry today unveiled his plan to reform the contracting system.

The Kerry plan will reform and simplify the contracting process, ensuring fair competition and reversing the trend towards awarding sole source contracts. It will overhaul the accounting process to ensure companies do not profit at taxpayers expense and severely punish any firm that overbills or profiteers.

As President, I will stop companies like Halliburton from profiting at the expense of our troops and taxpayers," Kerry said. I will stop companies from receiving no-bid contracts from the government when the president or vice president is still receiving compensation from that company. I will make sure that all government funds are properly accounted for. And as Commander in Chief, I will have two words for companies that cheat the U.S. military -- 'Youre fired."

Separately Friday, the Kerry campaign announced a new television ad, Cheney Halliburton." The ad notes that the administrations wrong choices have netted no-bid contracts for Halliburton, $2 million for Cheney and a $200 billion price tag, lost jobs and higher health care costs for the American people. The ad will greet Cheney today when he campaigns in Oregon and air in other battleground states next week.

For more information on Senator Kerry's stand on National Security, Energy Independence, Economy and Jobs, Health Care, Homeland Security, Education, Environment, Veterans, and Stronger Communities, read the Kerry-Edwards Plan for America at www.johnkerry.com/issues/ .

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