An Open E-mail to Jen Burita, Press Secretary to Susan Collins

Maine: With considerable discussion recently over how aggressive Susan Collins really was in investigating waste and mismanagement in Iraq, I figured it would be worthwhile to go right to the source. I will keep readers apprised to any response.

Subject: Hearings Held by then-Chairwoman Collins
From: Senate 2008 Guru
To: Jen Burita, Press Secretary to Senator Susan Collins
CC: Elissa Davidson, media contact for Susan Collins' campaign
Date: 1/29/08

Ms. Burita,

On January 8, David Offer had published an op-ed in the Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel discussing billions of dollars in waste and mismanagement in Iraq.

Mr. Offer followed up that op-ed with one this morning in which he raises the prospect that Senator Collins was not as aggressive a Chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs as she could have been when it came to investigating and holding hearings on waste and mismanagement in Iraq.

In this morning's column, Mr. Offer mentions your effort to highlight Senator Collins' aggressiveness as Chair:

She [Ms. Burita] sent me a list of 14 hearings held between June 4, 2003, and Oct. 17, 2007, on subjects including the Defense Department personnel system, cheating contractors, government purchasing, FEMA's response to Hurricane Katrina and Iraq reconstruction.

I am writing to ask you to forward me that list of 14 hearings that you sent Mr. Offer. I am very curious as to the content of these hearings and would very much appreciate the enlightenment. With these hearings having ostensibly been public record, I don't anticipate that this request should be a problem.

I very much look forward to reading through the list.

Kindest regards,
Senate 2008 Guru
http://senate2008guru.blogspot.com/