Washington Watch for July 21, 2008

• By GERARD SHIELDS
• Advocate Washington bureau
• Published: Jul 21, 2008 - Page: 5B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The Senate last week approved an amendment by U.S. Sen. David Vitter that would give inspectors general greater access to documents and information they need in monitoring the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The Senate approved a $50 billion package for AIDS initiatives, including $10 billion over the next five years to the Global Fund. The Louisiana Republican’s amendment withholds 20 percent of the money until the Global Fund sets up procedures to aid the inspector generals with the State Department and Department of Health and Human Services.

Currently, the Global Fund withholds information from inspector general investigations, Vitter said. The Global Fund is a foundation established in Switzerland in partnership between governments and the private sector.

“My amendment requires greater transparency to ensure that our money is being accounted for and being spent wisely,” Vitter said in a statement.

Vitter pointed to a report last year in The Boston Globe that included allegations that a former Global Fund executive director spent funds on limousines and other lavish expenses.

“The Global Fund has already reported to have a high record of waste and fraud,” Vitter said.
How’s that for impact?

President Bush last week lifted a ban on offshore drilling the day U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, sent him a letter urging him to do so.

Boustany joined 93 other House members, including 43 Republicans. Boustany urged Bush to lift the ban in order to help reduce gasoline prices throughout the country.

“We believe the time is right for you to take the first step,” the letter stated.

Though Bush lifted the ban, a similar ban has been imposed by Congress. Boustany acknowledged that lifting that ban could be a tough hurdle, given Democratic opposition to offshore drilling.

“The president demonstrated real leadership and now Congress must follow to lift the congressional moratorium,” Boustany said in a statement. “Lifting the executive ban puts even more pressure on Washington Democrats to follow his lead.”

Dollars for the Delta
The Senate Energy and Water Appropriations subcommittee recently approved $20 million for the Delta Regional Authority.

The authority is a federal and state partnership that promotes economic development in eight states, including Louisiana. The authority uses the money for various projects and to leverage more money to aid development.