Where Indeed?

From "he who does not wish to receive a hat tip," with thanks...

WHERE'S MIKE FITZPATRICK ON IRAQ?
Republicans Sign on to Independent Commission-8th District Congressman Remains MIA (dated 4/6/06)

Mike Fitzpatrick's failure to ask any tough questions about Iraq, or to take on members of his own party, was once again put front and center, as Fitzpatrick remained silent while prominent Republicans signed on to a measure creating a "special oversight committee" to investigate billions of dollars misspent in Iraq.

Yesterday, two Republican Congressman joined dozens of Democrats in supporting a measure that would create an independent, non-partisan House Committee tasked to examine expenditures and contracts for the Iraqi Reconstruction effort. Fitzpatrick refuses to support this bipartisan measure whose sole purpose is to get answers for the American public.

"During World War II, Harry Truman had the wherewithal to call for a commission to investigate waste, fraud and abuse by contractors in the war effort," said Patrick Murphy, Democratic candidate for Congress. "It is disappointing to see that Mike Fitzpatrick lacks that same intestinal fortitude."

Murphy, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, saw first hand while in Baghdad the problems with the administration of government contracts held by Halliburton and its subsidiaries.

"I saw with my own eyes in Iraq the problems with Halliburton's contracts and Kellogg Brown and Root's contracts, and Mike's refusal to back independent oversight of how tax dollars are being spent is just another evidence of Mike being MIA.

"I believe that Congress has a responsibility to make sure that tax dollars are spent efficiently and wisely. It disturbs me that Mike's priorities would be anywhere else."

According to the Defense Department's Inspector General, the military failed to account for more than $8.8 billion in appropriated Iraqi Reconstruction funds. For more than a year, Fitzpatrick has refused to sign onto H.Res. 116, a bipartisan bill that would create an independent commission to investigate-on behalf of Pennsylvanian taxpayers and the brave men and women fighting abroad-the disappearance of this money.

Press inquires are directed to:
Stephanie Odell
sodell@murphy06.com
(215) 760-2557

Joshua Nanberg
jnanberg@murphy06.com