FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 2006

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Pelosi Announces Democratic Truth Squad to Expose Bush Administration’s Waste, Fraud and Abuse

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today announced the formation of Democrats new Waste, Fraud and Abuse Truth Squad.  The Truth Squad will be chaired by Congressmen Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) and Dennis Cardoza (D-CA). 

The Truth Squad will conduct oversight of the Bush Administration’s handling of taxpayer dollars.  Under the Bush Administration’s watch, billions of taxpayer's dollars have been squandered, contributing to the largest annual deficits in our nation’s history.  Despite documented instances of waste, fraud and abuse, the Republican Congress has failed to provide meaningful oversight or hold the Administration accountable. 

“The alarming amount of waste, fraud and abuse by the Bush Administration and the Rubber Stamp Republican Congress is egregious,” House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said.  “The Democratic Truth Squad will keep the Bush Administration honest by documenting and exposing waste, fraud, and abuse.  Democrats are committed to a new direction in the way our government does business so taxpayer’s money is handled responsibly.”

Today, the Truth Squad is releasing a new report on wasteful procurement spending in response to Hurricane Katrina.  In the year following Hurricane Katrina, citizens of the Gulf Coast needed government to be at it best.  Instead, they got the cronyism, corruption, and incompetence that has been far too commonplace under the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress.  To read the report, click here.

“The way the Bush Administration has spent taxpayer dollars is shameful,” Congressman Waxman said.  “They’ve wasted billions and held no one accountable.  And the continuing indifference of the Republican Congress has allowed this to continue unchecked.”

“The Republican leaders in Congress and the White House have abdicated their responsibility to manage our nation’s finances,” Congressman Cardoza said.  “Congress cannot continue to buck its constitutional duty of checks-and-balances.  Future generations will have to pay for the money the federal government is borrowing from other countries to spend in Washington.”

Joining Congressmen Waxman and Cardoza on the Truth Squad are:

Congressman David Obey (D-WI)

Congressman John Tanner (D-TN)

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

Congressman John Tierney (D-MA)

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi