US defense budget spreads the wealth

These three articles illustrate how the US defense budget as it has grown over the last several years effects localities economically. This one and this one discuss how Western Pennsylvania relies on the budget to support local industry. This article about Hawaii shows the effect of the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the island of Kaua’i. Although tourism is the major economy on that island the conduct of AEGIS missile defense tests certainly adds money to the local economy. Read more

Construction contractor pleads guilty for defrauding DoD on Pentagon rebuilding

February 21, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: Department of Defense, crime 

This is a really bad story. A construction company in Pennsylvania plead guilty to falsely billing DoD for reconstruction of the Pentagon after 9/11 and stealing supplies for his own use. See The Pittsburgh Gazette for more. Really not much more to say here except one hopes that the judge throws the book at them. Also involved was a manager for the prime contractor on the contract who was taking kickbacks.