Alan Grayson, Congress and the False Claims Act

Alan Grayson is adamantly opposed to the war in Iraq and is bringing high-profile public attention to the nefarious crony capitalism of the Bush regime. My position is that anyone who does more than talk: anyone who takes forthright action against this regime, be that in the streets or the courtrooms, is deserving of support and solidarity.

This fall Grayson hopes to challenge incumbent Republican Ric Keller, a Bush minion, for the U.S. Congressional seat that represents downtown Orlando. If there were at least a few dozen more like Grayson across the country we'd have a much larger opening from which to advance a progressive agenda, including first and foremost an end to the war. --Besides taking the Bush gangsters to court, he actually joins us out in the streets once in a while.

Note: "People Power Hour" is hosted by MDS member George Crossley.

J. Jurie

Alan Grayson, Orlando candidate for Congress, signed a settlement agreement with IIF Data Solutions late yesterday, requiring IIF to pay $8.9 million plus interest to settle claims that it overcharged the Federal Government. The settlement brings to a successful conclusion a lawsuit that Grayson filed in June 2006 on behalf of the taxpayers and his client, a whistleblower and former IIF employee. This is the third largest recovery by a whistleblower in the 145-year history of the False Claims Act.

Grayson has filed dozens of lawsuits against corrupt and fraudulent government contractors. Uniquely, he has continued to prosecute these cases in the name of the Government, even where the Bush Administration facilitated the fraud and coddled corrupt contractors.

In the IIF case, Grayson fended off numerous efforts by IIF to dismiss the case. The Bush Administration refused to prosecute, and then it refused to allow any Government officials to appear as witnesses at trial. Grayson persevered nevertheless, marshalling other witnesses, experts, and documents. The lawsuit reached its exciting conclusion in a settlement agreement that Grayson negotiated in the courthouse, inside the judge's chambers, on the day that the trial was scheduled to begin.[1]

Under this Administration, Washington, D.C. is drowning in waste, fraud and abuse. We need someone to make sure that our tax dollars are spent wisely. Alan Grayson is the perfect person for that job. Please support Alan Grayson for Congress, on August 26 and November 4.

P.S. Our thanks in advance to the "People Power Hour" on WAMT, AM 1190, for devoting an entire hour to Alan Grayson and his campaign for Congress, this Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Some of Alan's five children likely will join him in the studio. We hope that you have a chance to listen. If you want to help the campaign, then tell your friends about it.

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[1] As required by the terms of the settlement agreement, it is noted that "Defendants have not admitted liability for any allegations brought in the litigation, and entered into the settlement only to avoid litigation risk and to continue to focus on delivering services to the Government."

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Justice. Equality. Peace.