I don't know how I missed this story. The consulting part of Arthur Andersen (Enron, anyone?) became Accenture. They set up in a hut on Bermuda somewhere, and now the gov't is giving them potentially $10 billion (with a 'b') over the next 10 years to keep track of who visits the U.S.
Is this a great country or what?
[url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,122890,00.html]
House Allows $10B Visitor-Tracking Contract for Accenture[/url]
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
WASHINGTON — A drive to block a massive federal contract awarded to Accenture LLP for tracking visiting foreigners was all but scuttled Wednesday by the House, despite arguments that the company should be punished for avoiding some U.S. taxes.
The near party-line 234-197 procedural vote by the GOP-led chamber meant language disallowing the contract — valued at up to $10 billion over the next decade — was likely to be removed later this week from a $32 billion bill financing the Homeland Security Department.
The Accenture contract would benefit a wide array of subcontractors and is strongly supported by the business community and the House Republican leadership. Accenture opponents say the company shrunk its tax bill by moving its headquarters to Bermuda. But they acknowledged they face an uphill fight and were hoping the Senate would keep the issue alive.
"These companies have an obligation to the United States of America to pay their taxes," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn. "If you want to feed at the public trough, you have to pay your taxes."
The vote came as Congress belatedly plunged into its budget work for 2005. Leaders hope to finish as many of the 13 annual spending bills as they can by the Oct. 1 start of the government's new fiscal year. Lawmakers took action on everything from adding money for U.S. diplomats in Iraq to ending the U.S. Capitol Police's new mounted police force.
