Government Waste
Senator Dorgan is determined to root out and eliminate wasteful government practices. Since 2002, he has teamed up with Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon to expose some absurd and costly government spending.
Pentagon’s Betting Parlor on Terrorism
The Defense Department was working to create an Internet website that would take wagers on the likelihood of terrorist events in the Middle East and elsewhere. Among other things, the Web site would have allowed bets on the likelihood of a bioterrorist attack on Israel, the assassination of Yasser Arafat, a North Korean missile attack, and the number of U.S. military casualties in global conflicts. It was supposed to be an $8–million–a–year program, and part of the controversial Total Information Awareness initiative developed by retired Admiral John Poindexter. Senator Dorgan, along with Senator Wyden, held a press conference three days before the Web site was due to be launched and exposed this program for what it was—an unbelievably dumb waste of money. Within 24 hours, the Defense Department shut down the program, and Admiral Poindexter resigned. This resulted in savings to taxpayers of $8 million per year.
Wasteful Spending in Iraq Reconstruction
Senator Dorgan believes that U.S. taxpayers should not foot the bill for Iraqi reconstruction projects that the Iraqi people are able to finance themselves. This is especially true in cases where Iraq’s infrastructure was not harmed in any way due to U.S. military action, and when the spending is not an emergency. But after coalition forces occupied Iraq, the Administration requested billions of dollars for non–emergency projects museum construction, a new zip code system, and wetland restoration–spending that the Iraqis could have financed with their own oil resources. Senators Dorgan and Wyden offered an amendment that eliminated $1.6 billion in funding for such projects. The amendment was signed into law, and was one of the biggest cuts in U.S. spending achieved by any senator during the fiscal year.
Government Credit Card Limit Increased to $250,000
In response to Hurricane Katrina, the White House asked that a provision be inserted in a supplemental appropriations bill increasing the “micropurchase” credit card limit to $250,000. Senator Dorgan was deeply concerned, because there have been widespread abuses of government credit cards in the past, including spending on gambling, liquor, jewelry, breast enlargement surgery, and even prostitution. What’s more, the Administration already has procurement flexibility in emergencies, so there was no need for this change. The Administration’s chief procurement officer, David Safavian, assured Congress that the new credit limits would not be abused — but Mr. Safavian was arrested by the FBI just two weeks later, for lying to an ethics investigator. Senator Dorgan introduced S. 1805, a bill to repeal the $250,000 rule. The day after Senator Dorgan introduced that legislation, the White House announced that it would support his legislation, and that it was now eliminating the $250,000 limit administratively.
Wasteful Training Practices By Postal Service Inspector General
The Inspector General at the U.S. Postal Service was supposed to be making mail delivery more efficient. Instead, the inspector general spent over $3 million on elaborate retreats at deluxe hotels, and forced its investigators to repeatedly “demonstrate team spirit” through bizarre stunts: wrapping themselves in toilet paper, doing mock stripteases, building gingerbread houses, going on treasure hunts, and dressing up like the Village People. Senator Dorgan met with a group of agency whistleblowers, and then demanded that the Inspector General be fired. The Inspector General resigned under pressure — putting an end to the multi–million–dollar waste in her office.
