Norm Coleman's incompetent and partisan version of oversight

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) has only been interested in oversight in certain limited circumstances. As Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations while the Republicans controlled the Senate, Norm ignored torture, no bid contracts in Iraq, disappearing billions of dollars, incompetence in the Iraq reconstruction and so much more. Go here for a more complete list.

Here are the limited circumstances when Norm believes in oversight:

• When it is someone or some institution that conservatives hate. Norm relentlessly pursued corruption in the United Nations Iraq Oil for Food program.
• The second circumstance is when conservatives have thrown one of their own under the bus to avoid answering bigger questions. Heckuva Job Brownie is the perfect example.
• The third circumstance is oversight where conservatives will not be targeted or in any way harmed. For example, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction’s (SIGIR) oversight of U.S. efforts in Iraq.

It is coming to light that SIGIR is rife with corruption. So sad for Norm.

The back story is that Norm lauded SIGIR's efforts to tout his belief in oversight. He and Susan Collins (R-ME) got an amendment attached to the 2008 Defense bill expanding and extending SIGIR's work.

Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Susan Collins (R-ME) last night successfully included an amendment in the 2008 Department of Defense authorization bill that would expand and extend the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction’s (SIGIR) oversight of U.S. efforts in Iraq. The amendment was introduced following Sen. Coleman’s return from Iraq where he met with representatives from SIGIR to discuss their needs and priorities. SIGIR is a temporary federal agency, created by Congress, that is responsible for oversight of expenditures and revenues associated with reconstruction and rehabilitation in Iraq. It is also charged with auditing, inspecting and investigating the use and potential misuse of funds intended for Iraq reconstruction programs. With a staff of approximately 130 and an annual budget of $35 million, SIGIR has produced more than 200 reports on Iraq reconstruction, including 94 audits, 95 Project Assessments, 14 quarterly reports to Congress and 3 comprehensive “Lessons Learned” reports on all aspects of Iraq reconstruction. It has initiated over 315 investigations, resulting in the arrests of 13 individuals and five convictions of individuals defrauding the U.S. government, and identified more than $57 million in taxpayer dollars saved or recovered.

Specifically, the Coleman-Collins amendment clarifies that any money used for reconstruction in Iraq shall be considered within the purview of SIGIR, removing any ambiguity that would put it under the oversight of another agency inspector general. Additionally, the amendment extends SIGIR’s current authority to audit reconstruction activity in fiscal year 2006 to include reconstruction in fiscal years 2007 and 2008, and extends and provides greater certainty to their authority, by changing the termination date to be 90 days after there is $250 million or less available for Iraq reconstruction.
(Norm's 9/28/07 press release)

Stuart Bowen, Jr., a former legal advisor to President Bush when he was governor of Texas, runs SIGIR. It appears that like anything the Republicans touch these days, it turns corrupt. Robin Wright has the details at the WaPo:

But Bowen's office has also been roiled by allegations of its own overspending and mismanagement. Current and former employees have complained about overtime policies that allowed 10 staff members to earn more than $250,000 each last year. They have questioned the oversight of a $3.5 million book project about Iraq's reconstruction modeled after the 9/11 Commission report. And they have alleged that Bowen and his deputy have improperly snooped into their staff's e-mail messages.

The employee allegations have prompted four government probes into the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), including an investigation by the FBI and federal prosecutors into the agency's financial practices and claims of e-mail monitoring, according to law enforcement sources and SIGIR staff members. Federal prosecutors have presented evidence of alleged wrongdoing to a grand jury in Virginia, which has subpoenaed SIGIR for thousands of pages of financial documents, contracts, personnel records and correspondence, several sources familiar with the probe said.
(Wash Post)