Pentagon Contractors Owe $7.7 Billion in Unpaid Taxes

By Thomas D. Williams, t r u t h o u t

A federal watchdog agency insists that its investigations clearly show the US government is facing serious long-term funding shortfalls, while federal contractors, doctors and medical suppliers, regularly receiving federal Medicare money, owe billions in unpaid taxes.

Earlier this month, Comptroller General David M. Walker of the US General Accountability Office opened one of his critical summary presentations to a Defense Department acquisition conference with: “The federal government is on a ‘burning platform,’ and the status quo way of doing business is unacceptable….”

He cited “past fiscal trends and significant long-range challenges; selected trends … having no boundaries;” outlandish government funding demands due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina; outdated federal policies and practices; and finally, “rising public expectations” for results.

(Original Article)