[techweenie]

I heard somebody say "the Republicans have created a culture of corruption."

So little of what's happening makes the media, that I think most aren't aware of the incredible sleaze going on out there -- even with the Katrina recovery efforts. you'd think that Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama contractors would get the bulk of the cleanup contracts, but apparently not.

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Gulf Firms Losing Cleanup Contracts
Most Money Going Outside Storm's Path
By Griff Witte, Renae Merle and Derek Willis
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, October 4, 2005; Page D01

Companies outside the three states most affected by Hurricane Katrina have received more than 90 percent of the money from prime federal contracts for recovery and reconstruction of the Gulf Coast, according to an analysis of available government data.

The analysis by The Washington Post takes into account only the first wave of federal contracts, those that had been entered in detail into government databases as of yesterday. Together they are valued at more than $2 billion. Congress has allocated more than $60 billion for the recovery effort, and the ultimate total is expected to rise far higher.

Katrina's Aftermath -- Accountability

But already the trend toward out-of-state firms is clear, despite pledges by administration officials that federal funds for Katrina relief will become an engine of local economic redevelopment. Among the contracts analyzed, 3.8 percent of the money went to companies that listed an Alabama address, 2.8 percent to firms in Louisiana and just 1.8 percent went for Mississippi contractors. Taken together, that amounts to less than $200 million.

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Who is getting the contracts? Do you really have to ask? Firms with ties to the Bush administration...