Which contractors have racked up the most expensive misconduct charges since 1995? The answer's at Project On Government Oversight's federal contractor misconduct database, which has just been updated. Some hints: Halliburton isn't even in the top 10. And two of the top three are household names.

By a 15-14 vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee this week OK'ed the $21.8 billion Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill, H.R. 2829, over GOP complaints that it would essentially cut the IRS private debt collection program. The bill provides a mere $1 million for the program for FY 2008 -- down by about $250 million from FY 2007. Democrats question the program's efficacy and cost, and cite concerns about the potential for abusive practices stemming from bounty-hunters' private possession of citizens' financial information.

BNA ($) on how the private debt collection program wasn't killed yesterday:

The House passed the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill (H.R. 2829) June 28 on a vote of 240-179 after House Democrats yielded to concerns about plans to shut down the Internal Revenue Service's private debt collection program.

The House Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee may try to kill the private debt collection program by shutting off its funding. Here's the story: The IRS' use of private debt collectors has retrieved millions in delinquent taxes but has raised questions about collection techniques and privacy rights. The House plans a vote this week on restricting the program's funds. Democrats critical of the program since it was approved by a GOP Congress in 2004 included only $1 million for private debt collection in the 2008 budget for Treasury Department agencies.