Republicans want to be known as the “fiscally responsible” party, yet they don’t seem to mind this. Why is that?

Too many dollars, too few Army investigators

FORT BELVOIR, Va. (AP) — Double-billing. Bribes. Kickbacks. Military contracts are big targets for serious crimes - and there aren’t nearly enough investigators to catch them all.

The Army’s contracting budget has exploded since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began - from $46 billion in 2002 to $112 billion in 2007. Yet the number of people who hunt down crooked companies and corrupt officials has stayed about the same, according to Associated Press interviews and research.

Army investigation chiefs told the AP they need a dramatic increase in agents to fight contract fraud.

They could fight it where they would be most effective - at the point the contract is awarded. But under a republican White House, those with shady backgrounds tend to get preferential treatment.

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