Tax dollars overseas

Dear editor:

I am disappointed with U.S. Sens. Zell Miller and Saxby Chambliss for not voting in favor of the war profiteering amendment recently proposed by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. If Miller and Chambliss had voted for this amendment it would have made it easier for contractors working abroad to be subjected to stiff penalties if they overcharged or cheated the U.S. government. At a time when America is spending billions of dollars in Iraq, there are no protections in place for my tax dollars being spent overseas.

In light of recent news that companies such as Halliburton have continuously overcharged the government, contractors could have been held to new criminal penalties under the proposed amendment. This amendment should not have been about party politics, but about holding accountable the contractors who are spending American’s tax dollars.

I hope Miller and Chambliss understand they are directly accountable to the public, especially when overseeing our tax dollars. I urge my fellow citizens to contact them and ask for answers as to why they voted against this amendment.

Nelle Wheeler, Summervill