(Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today launched an ad campaign inside the Beltway in an attempt to discourage federal agencies from continuing their bailout of MCI, formerly WorldCom.  The ads will appear in The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Roll Call, and The Hill.

“Instead of punishing MCI/WorldCom for its actions, the government continues to reward it with lucrative contracts.  Federal contracts should go to companies that obey the law,” the ad demands.  “Stop putting taxpayer money in jeopardy!”

MCI, which has committed the largest fraud in history, has received more than $750 million in government contracts since it filed for bankruptcy.  Other companies, such as Enron and Arthur Andersen, which have committed similar crimes, have been debarred from conducting business with the government.   CAGW accused federal agencies of applying a double standard when it comes to MCI.  As a result, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee, has recently launched an investigation into the continuation of MCI contracts.

“Thousands of investors lost more than $175 billion because of MCI,” Schatz concluded.  “It is time we ask why the federal government continues to award a company with such a reputation new contracts before taxpayers lose anymore money.”

For more information or a copy of the ad, please contact Mark Carpenter at (202) 467-5300.

Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.