Senator Webb Calls for Committee Hearing on Wartime Contracting Commission Recommendations

note:  after reading the 78 page report on wartime contracting over the weekend I was very pleased to see Senator Webb’s call for hearings … the DOJ should be asked to attend … and then hold people responsible … here’s the press release …

February 25, 2011

Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) issued the following statement regarding the release of the Commission on Wartime Contracting’s second interim report to Congress:

“The report’s specific recommendations to address the federal government’s overreliance on contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan and failure to control the process underscore the importance of the Commission’s charter,” said Senator Webb, a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. “Senator McCaskill and I worked hard to establish this Commission to restore public trust and to save taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud and abuse. The Department of Defense, other federal agencies, and the Congress should give the report’s recommendations serious consideration.

“I am asking the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services to schedule a hearing with members of the Commission on the recommendations of their independent, bipartisan report.  I encourage my colleagues serving on other oversight committees to hold similar hearings.”

Senators Webb and Claire McCaskill introduced legislation, enacted in January 2008, to establish the Commission on Wartime Contracting, modeled after the Truman Committee of World War II.  The Commission is studying and investigating the impact of the government’s growing reliance on civilian contractors to perform wartime functions in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It is assessing the extent of waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement of wartime contracts to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

The Commission held its first public hearings in 2009 and published an interim report on June 10, 2009—identifying major areas of emphasis in need of significant reform and critical issues of more immediate concern. Senators Webb and McCaskill called for prompt action by the Department of Defense, and the Secretary of Defense took steps to address these time-sensitive concerns as quickly as possible.

The second interim report reviews the budgetary and policy reasons for the federal government’s overreliance on contractors and offers 32 specific legislative, regulatory, and policy proposals to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse through improved oversight and better deployment of government resources. Key proposals include:

•           Restricting reliance on contractors for security functions;
•           Strengthening enforcement tools that hold contractors and government accountable;
•           Establishing high-level positions at Defense, State, and USAID, and new “dual-hatted” policy position in Executive Branch with responsibilities at both the Office of Management and Budget and the National Security Council;
•           Creating a “J-10” position at the Joint Chiefs of Staff to provide a focus on contingency contracting, which is currently subsumed under the Joint Chiefs’ logistics organization;
•           Increasing competition among contractors to promote cost savings; and
•           Ensuring that training for military and federal civilians who manage and oversee contingency contracts is made more consistent and effective.

The full report can be found here.

The Commission on Wartime Contracting is significantly increasing transparency and accountability and generating important recommendations to correct systemic contracting problems, with the potential for saving taxpayers billions of dollars. It is required to provide a final report to Congress in July 2011.

1st Congressional District Democrats Proud of DPVA Award Winners

1st Congressional District Committee

2011 Grassroots Award Winner – Tom Kimbrell of Stafford

2011 Committee of the Year Award – Williamsburg Democratic Committee

2011 Innovation Award – Historic Triangle Democrats

James City County, Williamsburg, York-Poquoson

Lifetime Achievement Award – Dick Toye of Spotsylvania

Dick Toye Accepts Lifetime Achievement Award At DPVA Luncheon

major h/t to Cathrine S. Read for her video …

Dick Toye Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

RESOLUTION HONORING RICHARD ERVIN (DICK) TOYE FOR A LIFETIME OF SERVICE AND ACHIEVEMENT IN THE 1^ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Whereas, Dick Toye has dedicated a lifetime of leadership, expertise and service in support of the Democratic Committee of Spotsylvania County wherein, when the Spotsylvania County Democratic  Committee had perhaps eight active members, he and chair Jim Smith kept the committee alive;  singlehandedly, performing the duties of Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Outreach Chair, Trainer, Mentor, and Recruiter when no one else could, or would, step up to the task; and, despite its small size, enabling the Committee to fulfill its responsibilities of reorganizing every two years, conducting caucuses in support of nominations and district activities, and participating fully in the 1^st and 7^th CD committees; and

Whereas, over his lifetime Dick Toye has served in the following positions of leadership in the Spotsylvania County Democratic Committee and performed the following tasks in an exemplary fashion, serving as a role model and mentor for other committee members and grassroots supporters:

• Vice Chair
• Treasurer
• Outreach Chair Committee Chair
• Membership and Party Building Chair
• Member SCDC Executive Committee
• Precinct Captain for an “orphan precinct” other than his own
• Poll Worker
• Setting up and staffing the Stars and Stripes Event in Spotsylvania County, and helping with the booth at the Fredericksburg Heritage Festival year after year
• Member recruitment
• Hosting fundraisers for candidates
• Canvassing
• Phone Banking, and

Whereas, Dick Toye is always a generous donor to candidates and Committee functions, including campaign contributions, food for fundraisers and meetings, and other financial and in-kind support; and

Whereas, Dick Toye is a recognized community leader in Spotsylvania, appearing in support of worthy causes and providing valuable advice and counsel on local issues such as:

• Speaking out against selling the John J. Wright Middle School, arguing that that John J. Wright was a teacher, a farmer, a civic worker and an organizer of the Sunday School Union who helped black youth to acquire voting rights and an education, and that the school was a symbol and a testament to John J. Wright and it was a monument and museum important to the African American community; and because of the testimony of Dick Toye and others, the School Board and the Board of Supervisors was unanimously opposed to the sale of the school 
• Speaking in support of the rezoning of the Settlement District of the Comprehensive Plan, which generally recommended mixed use centers surrounded by residential development, at a density range of 0.5 to 3 dwelling units per gross acre
• Speaking at a public hearing in support of Spotsylvania’s joining the VRE
• Speaking out about the lack of recognition in Spotsylvania County of the contributions and valor of the United States Colored Troops
• Speaking on commonwealth budget at Sen. Ed Houck’s Town Hall in Spotsylvania
• Submitting numerous letters to the Editor of local newspapers on on issues facing the community, and

Whereas, Dick Toye has dedicated time and expertise serving on a number of civic leagues and commissions in Spotsylvania County, including as

• Member, Black Civic League Juneteenth Committee
• For several years as a Member of the Spotsylvania County Grand Jury on “gang related activity”
• Member, Hospital Board Spotsylvania County
• Member 1^st Congressional District Democratic Committee; now, therefore, it is hereby

Resolved, this 19th day of February, 2011, that the 1^st Congressional District Democratic Committee recognizes and honors the Lifetime Achievement and Service of RICHARD ERVIN (DICK) TOYE to the Democratic Committee of Spotsylvania County, the 1^st Congressional District and the Democratic Party of Virginia, and extends its appreciation and thanks to him for his years of his wisdom, mentorship, and leadership in support of Democratic ideals and causes.

Virginia GOP’s McDonnell Supports Suppressing Workers’ Rights

h/t to all the groups that are trying to hold potential GOP/Teabagger V-P candidate, and Virginia’s current Governor, Bob McDonnell accountable for his support of a the actions of fellow radical right wing governor from Wisconsin who is trying to strip public employees of their right to collective bargaining … here’s what they have to say …

February 23, 2011

Dear Governor McDonnell;

We are deeply concerned about your expressed support for Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker as he fights against workers’ rights and abuses his authority by striking a blow against all working people in Wisconsin.  In your video address last Friday, you stated that the actions taken by Governor Walker are simply a matter of course and that asking public sector workers to “do more with less” is a means to “get Wisconsin’s fiscal house in order.” This assessment obscures the real issue at hand in Wisconsin: Governor Walker is unscrupulously using the budget crisis as an opportunity to push forward an anti-organized labor agenda.

Blaming public sector workers for budget problems caused by the worst economic downturn in decades is a shortsighted, misguided approach at best and opportunistic and autocratic at worst. Public sector workers in Wisconsin have made the concessions to pensions and health care benefits that the Governor has requested. The firefighters, teachers and nurses that are filing into the Capitol building by the thousands have, in fact, agreed to “do more with less.”

The problem is that Governor Walker is not bargaining in good faith. He has made it abundantly clear that this is an ideological crusade against working people and their right to bargain collectively, not simply an exercise in fiscal discipline. Governor Walker’s exploitation of Wisconsin’s economic instability for political purposes is shameful. In the struggles of his constituents, Governor Walker sees political opportunity. From 950 miles away in Virginia, we see Governor Walker prioritizing corporate interests over the interests of residents and communities.

For the last several years, states across the nation — with Democratic and Republican Governors alike — have made incredibly difficult budget decisions. The Commonwealth of Virginia is no exception. In fact, as a right-to-work state, Virginia’s budget has faired no better than those with strong public sector unions like Wisconsin. Although we accept that difficult times require difficult choices, Virginians are simply not buying the “blame the public sector workers” mentality. As organizations, we see our members and supporters suffering from several years of drastic budget cuts. We hold in good faith that our elected officials in the Commonwealth will make pragmatic budget choices and will not use our health, safety and education as bargaining chips to further a political agenda.

We stand in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of firefighters, teachers, nurses and police officers protesting in the Capitol buildings of Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. These working men and women deserve our respect and support for continuing to fight for the American dream.

Signed,

Central Virginia Chapter A.P.R.I.

Central Virginia Labor Federation

Communications Workers of America Virginia State Council

CWA Local 2204

Eastern Virginia Labor Federation

IUE-CWA Local 82161

National Coalition of Public Safety Officers

Northern Virginia Labor Federation

Richmond Jobs with Justice

Richmond Peace Education Center

SEIU Local 5

SEIU Local 32BJ

Sierra Club Virginia Chapter

Tenants and Workers United

Virginia AFL-CIO

Virginia Association of Personal Care Assistants

Virginia Education Association

Virginia New Majority

Virginia Organizing

Virginia Professional Fire Fighters, IAFF

Virginia State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Voice of Vietnamese Americans

Western Virginia Labor Federation

Workers’ Justice Center

Solidarity Rally hosted by Virginia’s Working Middle Class – Saturday, Feb. 26th

From Williamsburg to Wisconsin

Solidarity Rally hosted by Virginia’s Working Middle Class

Virginia Stands with all Public Workers

We stand with the brave workers, students and activists all across the country who are fighting for their rights and protecting the American Dream.

Join fire fighters, teachers, public employees, students, and community members Saturday to send that message loud and clear!

Download Flier

Where:
IAFF 2498 Local Union Hall
7294 Merrimac Trail
Williamsburg VA, 23185

When:
Saturday February 26th @ 1:00 PM

Contact:
Ronnie Lewis
IAFF Local 2498 Vice President
Phone: 804 815 4337 Email: vplewis@iaff2498.org

Jim Moran Update – “An Irresponsible Budget”

This morning at 4 a.m. the House of Representatives approved the Republican leadership’s proposed budget for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011 which ends on September 30th. I could not have been more opposed. This budget calls for drastic and harmful cuts that will affect all Americans. To appease an extreme wing of their party, the Republican leadership promised to include $100 billion in spending cuts for the remaining seven months of the fiscal year.

My Democratic colleagues and I took to the House floor to argue against the harmful cuts included in this bill, from defunding crucial education programs like Head Start to blocking the EPA from ensuring we have clean water to drink and air to breathe. Cutting wasteful spending is responsible. Slashing programs and funding critical to the public’s health and well-being is reckless.

Not only will these severe cuts hurt families across the country, the Economic Policy Institute has reported as many as 800,000 public and private sector employees could lose their jobs as a result of it.

How Northern Virginia would be harmed specifically:

• Up to 325,000 private sector jobs projected to be lost
• 650,000 federal jobs projected to be lost
• Cuts more than $588 million in federal agency salaries and expenses
• Eliminates $150 million in annual federal funding for Metro
• 20% cut to Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts
• 14% cut in national Head Start funds that could affect the over 500 local Head Start children and families

It could not be more clear that this irresponsible budget fails to invest in our nation and would threaten our economy’s path to recovery. We need to balance our budget, but not on the backs of average Americans in a way that shortchanges everyone’s future. I will continue to fight tooth and nail for a responsible budget, one that provides funding for programs that make us stronger, cuts those that don’t, and makes reforms that will put our fiscal house in order for the long run.

Sincerely,

James P. Moran

Tim Kaine Still Considering 2012 U.S. Senate Race

Update:  2012 U.S. Senate race … no decision YET from Virginia’s former Governor and current DNC Chairman, Tim Kaine …. here’s two quotes from tonight from him …

“I’m going to make a decision soon,”

“Whatever decision I make, I’m confident that the next Senator from Virginia will be a Democrat.”

note:  Roll Call has more coverage  “Kaine Keeps Democrats Waiting”

2011 Jefferson Jackson – This Weekend’s Schedule

Friday, February 18, 2010

4PM – 7 PM   DPVA Headquarters Open House (Free) 1710 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23223

7:30 PM  DPVA Steering Committee Meeting (Free) Richmond Marriott Hotel, 500 East Broad Street   Salons A-D

9:00 PM  Virginia Young Democrats Reception with Chairman Brian Moran ($25) Richmond Marriott Hotel, 500 East Broad Street Salons G-J

Saturday, February 19, 2010

8:15 AM  Women’s Caucus Breakfast ($60) Hilton Garden Inn

8:30 AM  Virginia Association of Democratic Chairs Meeting (Chairs Only) Richmond Convention Center, Room E22A

10:00 AM  DPVA Central Committee Meeting (Free) Richmond Convention Center, Room E10 ABC

12:00 PM   DPVA Grassroots Awards Luncheon ($25) Richmond Convention Center, Room E11 ABC

2:00 PM   Celebration of Black History Month – Highlights & Self Tour of Richmond  – Historical Landmarks, Presented by the Democratic Black Caucus of Virginia  Richmond Convention Center, Room E22A

3:00 PM  Redistricting Presentation w/ Dr. Bob Holsworth Richmond Convention Center Room E23A/B (Free)

6:00 PM   Jefferson-Jackson Receptions Begins Richmond Convention Center

7:00 PM   Jefferson-Jackson Dinner Begins

Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Martin O’Malley

Richmond Convention Center, Exhibit Hall B

10 PM – 1 AM  JJ After Dark with Live Entertainment ($50) Richmond Marriott Hotel, 500 East Broad Street, Grand BallRoom

TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR EVENTS CLICK HERE

Note: the above does not include the many Committee meetings being held throughout the weekend

What is Wrong with What China Makes?

h/t to Alliance for American Manufacturing for asking the hard questions … the following links to the article … note that it could have brought up the Chinese Drywall issue Virginians and other Americans are dealing with …

What is Wrong with What China Makes | Alliance for American Manufacturing.