more on Cost Overruns Blamed on Power Surges

Begin forwarded message:

From: Rod Van Meter <[email protected]>
Date: December 10, 2006 9:06:35 AM GMT+09:00
To: [email protected], Carl Malamud <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [IP] Cost Overruns Blamed on Power Surges
Reply-To: [email protected]


>
> Particularly interesting is the explanation for why upgraded
> cutters have little problems like cracks in the hull:

Even more disturbing is this one:

The Coast Guard recognized from the start that it might need help
financing a project as big as Deepwater, and that was part of the reason
it turned to Lockheed and Northrop.

“They have armies of lobbyists, they can help get dollars to get the job
done,” explained Jim McEntire, a retired captain who had served as a
senior Coast Guard budget official. “The White House and Congress listen
to big industrial concerns.”

-----

When one branch of government starts lobbying another via a third party
(especially, but not only, a commercial company), there's trouble.

		---Rod