$10 billion Homeland Security contract awarded to ex-pat Accenture

[G_j]

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THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=40901 >
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BUSH ALLIES VOTE FOR CONTRACT TO CORPORATE EX-PAT

As reported in an earlier Daily Mislead,<1> the Bush administration awarded
a $10 billion Department of Homeland Security contract to Accenture, a
company that based its headquarters in Bermuda to avoid paying U.S. taxes.
The move defied the President's promise to make sure everyone is "paying
their fair share."<2> As if the Administration's actions weren't enough,
yesterday the White House's Congressional allies defeated legislation that
would have stopped the contract.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Congress "bowed to Republican leaders" and
rejected legislation sponsored by Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) that
would have prevented the contract from moving forward.<3> Despite proponents
of the bill noting that Accenture "has shrunk its tax bill by moving its
headquarters to Bermuda,"<4> the White House's allies defeated the
legislation on a party line vote.

The General Accounting Office has cited Accenture for using offshore tax
havens.<5> Because of the GAO's report, at least one state has had the
courage to do what Congress and the White House refuse to do. In May,
Illinois held up a $2 million state contract<6> to the company because of
its tax behavior. In its defense, the company denies getting serious
benefits from moving offshore. But, according to a June 1 Bloomberg News
report, Accenture's tax liability decreased<7> while its U.S. earnings
increased in 2002 and 2003.

Sources:
1. "Bush Gives Contract to Tax Traitor/Campaign Donor ", Misleader.org,
6/02/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=40902.
2. Presidential Remarks, WhiteHouse.gov, 4/15/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=40903.
3. "House reverses course, won't bar Accenture security contract", Chicago
Tribune, 6/17/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=40904
oll=chi-business-hed.
4. "House votes to allow contract for Accenture", Chicago Sun-Times,
6/17/2004, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=40905.
5. "GAO concludes Accenture, others, use tax havens", Washington Technology,
10/03/2002,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=40906.
6. "Hynes Blocks Payments To Overseas Company, Asks For Policy Ruling",
KSDK.com, 5/03/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=40907.
7. "Contractor vows to continue work on $10 billion border system",
Government Executive, 6/10/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=40908.

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[chaumont58]

1. I had some experience with them when they were called Anderson..

Consulting. They totally screwed the company I worked for at the time. I thought they should have changed their name to Rape and Plunder Consulting.

[wug37]

2. Right

I work for Accenture, although I'm not eligible to work on this project. There has been a lot of corporate propaganda and swill going around, but to sum it up, they are claiming that when they consolidated all their worldwide offices, the board of directors or whatever decided that the Bahamas was a neutral place to put their corporate headquarters. But the execs are all based in Chicago. I don't really feel that Accenture shouldn't have gotten the contract, but I am biased since I work there, and therefore do see some benefits to my company getting more work.