Government contracts worth over $762 billion for initiatives like homeland security, Iraq reconstruction, and Hurricane Katrina recovery have been plagued by significant fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement under the Bush Administration. And it’s not hard to see why.

Under the Bush Administration and Republican Congress, no-bid contracts have been the rule, not the exception, and well-connected contractors with poor performance have received large award fees. Abuse prone cost-plus contracts have given contractors little or no incentive to control costs. And “layer cake

As we commemorated the anniversary of one of America's darkest days, I was reminded of the thin line between discussing our national security and playing politics with those who would harm Americans. This past week, and indeed, these past five years have shown us the harsh reality that the President and his Administration are simply playing politics.

Instead of finding out what happened on that day five years ago, the Administration worked to thwart the efforts of the 9/11 Commission. Instead of pursuing Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, they allowed him to escape. Instead of implementing the homeland security recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, they passed laws restricting civil liberties. They've failed to secure the borders, failed to inspect cargo that passes through our ports, and failed to reach out to allies who could help us track down and corner those who wish us harm. Instead of focusing our resources on preventing the spread of terrorism, the Administration lied, fabricated, and mislead us into a war with a country that had nothing to do with the terrorists who attacked us. Moreover, they sent our troops into harm's way without sufficient numbers, adequate body armor, or even a plan to establish peace after the invasion.

Most of all, they have failed to understand that our national security depends upon far more than just the bombs on the wings of an airplane. It is the combined effect of all of our national strengths—military, economic, cultural, and diplomatic. If our experience in the Cold War taught us anything, it is that the combined effect of these forces is far more powerful than any one alone. We did not defeat the Soviet Union with military power alone, nor will we be able to bomb our way through the great threats of the modern world. We must employ the same, combined, coordinated approach that so effectively tore down the Iron Curtain and bring to bear the full might of the United States if we are to continue to be a leading force in the world.

Yet, despite this essential truth, this Administration insists upon staying a broken and badly misguided course. We are fighting the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time against the wrong enemy—and for the wrong reasons. We need a new course and that must begin by accepting the facts on the ground. Iraq is in a state of civil war, the broader Middle-East is badly destabilized, Osama bin Laden is operating freely, and we have no viable plan to fix any of these problems. We must immediately begin to redeploy our troops to resume the hunt for al-Qa'ida. We must work for a political solution in Iraq, drawing upon the lessons of Bosnia to establish three separate, semi-autonomous regions. Lastly, we must repair the broken alliances around the world—alliances that will give us the broad reach to hunt down and capture terrorists no matter where they hide—and restore the United States to our place as the leader, and the hope, of all nations.

I saw Nancy Pelosi's comments that capturing Osama Bin Laden would not make us safer. And I had one thought: "What a quack." Based on her logic, Hitler should've been a low-priority target during World War II. In the run-up to November, this is one of the hundreds of reasons Americans must consider WWPD - What Would Pelosi Do?

Rep. Mike Ferguson wants to change the Constitution to make abortion a crime even in the case of rape or incest. My campaign recently launched a new television commercial informing voters of his extreme position on choice.

I have long worked to protect women’s health and defend a woman’s right to choose while in public office. I will always support legislation guaranteeing women access to safe, legal contraceptives and abortion services. I trust women to make the right decision. Nobody – especially Mike Ferguson – has the right to tell a woman what to do with her body. That decision is between a woman, her family, and her doctor.

Watch my commercial and let me know what you think.

Lincoln Chafee's historic victory in yesterday's primary bodes extremely well for the general election. His honest, independent leadership and integrity brought voters to the polls in record numbers, and it is evident that enthusiasm for Senator Chafee and his record will carry through to November. Chafee's support across Rhode Island -- from both Republicans and independents -- will make it very difficult for Sheldon Whitehouse to gain traction in his bid to unseat Senator Chafee. Look for him in Chafee's rear view mirror...

A few weeks ago I took my pickup around Eastern Montana to talk with Montana families and businesses about my ‘Real Energy, Real Change’ plan.  At a time when energy prices are through the roof and folks have to dig deeper in their pockets to fill their tanks, heat their homes, run their farms and keep their businesses afloat, we need vision and a plan for energy independence in our country.  By taking concrete steps to invest in bio-diesel, ethanol and wind power, along with developing our state’s abundant natural resources cleanly and efficiently, Montana has the potential to play a key role in leading our country to energy security.

The Environmental Protection Agency recently reported that the U.S. Senate’s Interior Spending Bill is only a fraction of the funding needed to implement renewable-fuels standards.  My opponent, Sen. Burns, crafted that bill and calls it a success.  I call that lack of vision and poor leadership, and it’s this kind of poor leadership in Washington that has allowed our country to become more dependent on foreign oil than we were in the 1970s. It’s that lack of leadership that is allowing multinational oil and gas companies to write our energy policy.

We can achieve energy independence, with government that will facilitate and encourage development of alternative and renewable energy.

The protection and security of our people is the paramount duty of government. And, if President Bush won't stand up for our safety, I will. Today, my campaign unveiled a new television ad highlighting my commitment to homeland security.

After 9/11, I chaired the House Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security. I was one of the first advocates to call for the Department of Homeland Security. I was a strong supporter of the creation of the 9/11 Commission, and was one of the first to propose fully implementing its recommendations - including risk-based funding that would increase New Jersey's homeland security dollars. That legislation was defeated by Bush Republicans in a party line vote.

I played a key role in getting subsequent legislation passed. In fact, 9/11 Commission Chairman Tom Kean Sr. and Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton personally wrote to me hailing my dedication to implementing the commission's recommendations: "We strongly believe that, as a result of your and others' commitment and dedication to reform, the American people are safer and more secure." Read more...

I filed an amendment today to the port security bill before the Senate to provide $6.5 billion in emergency agricultural disaster assistance to help agricultural producers struggling from the ongoing drought. Our drought-stricken communities need this immediate relief. Last month I toured the drought stricken regions of Nebraska including Lake McConaughy and the Northwest Nebraska communities that recently had to fight wildfires and now must recover from the devastation.

We need to address this issue this week and I want to attach the emergency disaster assistance amendment to the port security bill (H.R. 4954) being discussed this week. Recent maps provided by the U.S. Drought Monitor at the University of Nebraska’s National Drought Mitigation Center show the entire central United States suffering from drought conditions categorized as severe, extreme or exceptional. The western two-thirds of Nebraska are currently suffering from severe to extreme drought.

These ongoing drought conditions have severely impacted agriculture in Nebraska—costing nearly $342 million this year alone, according to a recent report from the NDMC. Irrigation costs are up and grazing losses in Western Nebraska range from 50 to 70 percent. Agriculture producers in Nebraska and other states are struggling with a multi-year drought and Congress has failed to respond adequately. The problem is getting worse and Washington needs to get something done to help the farmers and ranchers struggling from this natural disaster.

In February of 2005, as Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), I opened an inquiry into radical environmental and animal rights groups who use criminally-based activism in an effort to influence public policy. Groups such as the Earth Liberation Front ("ELF"), the Animal Liberation Front ("ALF"), and Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty ("SHAC"), to name a few, use crimes of violence like arson, bombings, and property destruction to frighten individuals, companies, and governments into abandoning work affecting the environment or animals. This is the textbook definition of terrorism and is crime punishable by current law.

However, after taking testimony through two EPW Committee hearings from multiple victims, officials from the FBI, DOJ and the educational and scientific communities, it became painfully obvious that many of these extremists' tactics were, in fact, not addressed by current law. I am referring to a sophisticated form of fear-based activism using threats, stalking, harassment, and intimidation to frighten those away from their work on animals. These fear generating tactics are directed not only at a person or company working with animals but also at those that simply do business with or have some connection to those working with animals. This is also terrorism and, unfortunately, is not adequately covered by today's laws.

Animal rights extremists dawning fatigues and hoods, equipped with bullhorns regularly appear in the darkness of night threatening the lives of families. Cutting power and phone lines, bashing in front doors, and throwing bricks through windows are just some of the preliminary things regularly done in an effort to force an unsuspecting CEO to decide to drop a client simply because they want the harassment to end. This is how it starts. Hold out, due to your principles, and quickly you will find a website calling for a "direct action" to be committed upon you with your home address and your children's names, schools, and soccer schedules posted on it. Read more...