MONEY TALKS, AS USUAL

Uncompetitive bidding for Katrina cleanup gets new, harsh scrutiny
By Hope Yen
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona Published: 12.26.2006

Federal investigators have already determined the Bush administration squandered $1 billion on fraudulent disaster aid to individuals after the 2005 storm. Now they are shifting their attention to the multimillion-dollar contracts to politically connected firms that critics have long said are a prime area for abuse.

3 key players
Four of the largest Katrina contracts currently under review by the Homeland Security Department's inspector general. The companies have denied that political connections played a factor in their contract awards.
BECHTEL GROUP INC.
• Value of contracts: $250 million, on top of previous no-bid work of up to $575 million.
• Contributions: More than $1.3 million since 2000, primarily to Republicans.

CH2M HILL COMPANIES LTD.
• Value of contracts: $250 million, on top of previous no-bid work of up to $500 million.
• Contributions: Nearly $1 million since 1999, primarily to Republican National Committee and other Republicans.

FLUOR CORP.
• Value of contracts: $250 million, on top of previous no-bid work of up to $1.4 billion.
• Contributions: More than $930,000 since 2000, primarily to Republicans.