Oversight Committee Asks Where $9 Billion Is Going


Congressman Chris Murphy (D-5) had his first taste of the national stage Monday during the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s questioning of former Iraq occupation administrator L. Paul Bremer.

House Democrats have been wondering openly about the disbursement of almost $9 billion in Iraqi oil revenue during Bremer’s tenure. Murphy said Bremer’s responses were not encouraging.

"Accountability is a foreign word to these people," he said. "I’ve never seen more passing of the buck.

"We handed over $9 billion in cash to Iraqi ‘ministries’ — agencies with no employees. Now, there’s probably some truth to what Bremer said about there being no banking system, but at best I think the money was misappropriated, and at worst it got to the people who support the insurgents.

"It’s like the bull blaming the owner of the china shop for the mess."

Asked what the long-term results of the hearings might be, Murphy said there were two areas in which he thought the hearings would be useful.

"First, we are learning just how incompetent our occupation has been. We have shown no ability to meet the objectives of the mission. It doesn’t seem that we can do it any better than the Iraqis."

Which leads him to the inescapable conclusion: "For me that’s just more reason to push for an end to our intervention."

The second benefit is long-term: "I hope it will teach us that Congress and the Executive Branch need to work together better."

Murphy described President Bush’s budget as being "as close to dead on arrival as you can get."

"The president has had his hands over his ears since Election Day and shows no signs of removing them, and this budget is just more of the same."

And Murphy said the discontent with the administration in Congress does not break down along party lines.

"In a way, the president’s attitude toward Congress makes it easier to reach agreements [with Republican members]. The president sets himself in opposition to the Congress itself."

The result? "We saw a remarkable degree of bipartisan support. The bills in the ‘First 100 Hours’ agenda had substantial Republican votes.

"Even the most controversial bill — the continuing resolution [to keep the federal government going until the new budget is passed] — had 50 Republican votes."

Has the novelty worn off for the freshman congressman?

"No, it’s still exciting. I’m still in the world of firsts. My first forign policy hearing, first budget process.

"I suspect that the days that aren’t thrilling will be few and far between over the next two years."

 

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