July 18, 2009 – Capitol Hill Blue

Pentagon no-bid contracts waste millions

July 18, 2009

The Defense Department frequently awards no-bid work to small contractors for repairs at military bases under the new economic stimulus law, costing taxpayers millions of dollars more than when businesses compete for the work, according to an Associated Press analysis of 570 such contracts.

The Pentagon saves more than three times as much money when companies compete, the AP analysis showed. Yet more than $242 million in federal contracts — representing more than one-fourth of the military’s stimulus contract spending so far — has been awarded under the recovery program through no-bid contracts for repairs and maintenance.

Sotomayor wins key GOP support

July 18, 2009

Three Republican senators said Friday they will back President Barack Obama’s choice of Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, setting the stage for a likely easy confirmation.

"Given her judicial record, and her testimony this week, it is my determination that Judge Sotomayor is well-qualified to serve as associate justice of the United States Supreme Court," Cuban-born Senator Mel Martinez of Florida said on his website.

That’s the way it is: Walter Cronkite dies

July 18, 2009

The death of Walter Cronkite elicited tributes from colleagues, presidents past and present, world-famous astronauts and those who hoped in vain to fill his empty anchor chair, all honoring the avuncular face of TV journalism who became the "most trusted man in America."

Cronkite died with his family by his side Friday night at his Manhattan home after a long illness, CBS vice president Linda Mason said. Marlene Adler, Cronkite’s chief of staff, said Cronkite died of cerebrovascular disease. He was 92.

Day: July 18, 2009

Pentagon no-bid contracts waste millions

Sotomayor wins key GOP support

That’s the way it is: Walter Cronkite dies