The Honest Leadership and Accountability in Contracting Act of 2006 (S. 2361)
** Punishes War Profiteers Sec. 101 establishes penalties of up to
20 years in prison and at least $1 million in fines for war profiteering.
** Cracks Down on Big Corporate Cheaters Sec. 102 restores
a Clinton Administration rule on suspension and debarment, which
prohibited awarding federal contracts to companies that exhibited
a pattern of failing to comply with the law. The Bush Administration
repealed this rule as soon as it took office.
** Requires Full Disclosure of Contract Abuses Sec. 103 establishes
a "Truth in Contracting" public website identifying overcharges by
major contractors. This is partly based on Senator Lautenberg’s
"Truth In Contracting" amendment to the FY 2006 Defense authorization bill.
** Forces Real Contract Competition Secs. 201 and 202 prohibit the
awarding of huge monopoly contracts, and allow multiple companies to
make bids for work so as to ensure price competition.
** Bans Corporate Cronyism in Contracting Sec. 211 requires that
federal agencies conduct contract oversight, rather than paying
contractors with conflicts of interest to oversee one another.
** Eliminates Conflicts of Interest for Federal Contracting Employees
Sec. 212 closes the perverse loophole that allows federal contracting
officials to take jobs as lobbyists for companies to whom they awarded
contracts.
** Ends Cronyism in Key Government Positions Sec. 301 stops unqualified
political appointees like David Safavian and Michael Brown from holding
key jobs relating to federal contracting or public safety.
** Strengthens Whistleblower Protections Sec. 302 makes it more
difficult for federal agencies to retaliate against whistleblowers,
and gives courts wider discretion to consider cases of retaliation.