Weekly Reader: House Acquisition "Reforms" Written by Defense Contractors

May 16, 2015            Editor's Choice House Acquisition "Reforms" Written by Defense Contractors Incorporating reporting by POGO, Politico revealed that many of the proposed acquisition reforms passed this week in the House came from the defense industry. In some cases, language was word for word from their lobbyists. Read more on POGO's blog about how one company secured changes to purchasing rules that will stick costs to taxpayers. Congress Still Playing Keep-Away with CRS Reports The House Appropriations Committee has decided to maintain a ban on the Congressional Research Service’s ability to publish its reports, holding tight to symbolic congressional control of this information. The logic behind the ban doesn't sit well with experts or those of us who want a more informed public. Read more on POGO’s blog. Ex-Pentagon Inspector General Official Cashes In With Revolving Door Former Acting Inspector General for the Department of Defense Lynn Halbrooks has secured a job with a major law firm that represents one of the top contractors overseen by her former agency. Halbrooks said her practice “will include advising clients on inspector general and other federal investigations, enforcement defense, and compliance matters.” Read more on POGO's blog. Social Media Campaign Prompts Senate Action Newly released FOIA documents show that the grassroots led social media campaign about FOIA legislation caught the attention of Capitol Hill staffers and helped move the bill through the Senate last Congress. The news outlet MuckRock released the documents that show that social media campaigns are an effective tool to prompt change. Read more on POGO’s blog. From the World of POGO POGO Supports Expansion of Military Whistleblower Protections In National Defense Authorization Act Following troubling Government Accountability Office findings of failures in Defense Department treatment of military whistleblowers, POGO joins other government watchdogs in urging the House to adopt Congresswoman Jackie Speier's (D-CA) amendment to expand protections. Learn more, read POGO’s letter. POGO Opposes GSA Prices Paid Proposal that Would Gut the Price Reduction Clause POGO opposes new plan to scrap pricing protection tool and rely on sales data indicating previous government prices paid. The plan would essentially lock the government into buying commercially available goods at government prices rather genuine market prices. Learn more, read POGO’s letter. Tweets of the Week What you learn in open mark: @SenBlumenthal offers amendment to weaken F117 spare part overcharges we wrote about http://t.co/0c2DBfqOjj — Straus Reform (@StrausReform) May 12, 2015 https://twitter.com/StrausReform/status/598192435198570498 Defense bill protects A-10 - proud to help lead fight to ensure ground troops have the close air support they need http://t.co/INwhPLkEQ3 — Kelly Ayotte (@KellyAyotte) May 14, 2015 https://twitter.com/KellyAyotte/status/598990226468536320 Defense firm that employed drunk, high contractors in Afghanistan may have wasted $135 million in taxpayer dollars http://t.co/n305oMSkkA — Scott Amey (@SAmeyJD) May 14, 2015 https://twitter.com/SAmeyJD/status/598837840466866177 2/3 Defense industry boasts Thornberry's bill used their recs "word-for-word." His top industry? #Defense aerospace: http://t.co/kFPGfe4mQs — Sheila Krumholz (@skrmhlz) May 14, 2015 https://twitter.com/skrmhlz/status/598899001887465472 After 8 years, air marshal #whistleblower @rjmaclean is back on the public payrollhttp://t.co/Xcef4jpcJ6 — Neil Gordon (@NEGordon) May 13, 2015 https://twitter.com/NEGordon/status/598515939588595712

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