Bonner Blasts Tiahrt’s Latest Stunt

Northrop Grumman Air Force Jo Bonner condemned fellow Congressman Todd Tiahrt's latest legislation aimed at requiring the Air Force to rebid the $40 billion tanker contract.

by U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner

Published: Thu, June 26, 2008 - 3:30 pm CST

“Today, one of our colleagues introduced the KC-X Recompete Act, and its message is clear: if the warfighter wants a new tanker to replace its 50-year-old fleet anytime soon, it has one choice, Boeing’s KC-767.

“That Act tells the warfighter—take the 767—take it or leave it—or face years of delay to conduct a new competition.

“Boeing’s 767 is a plane, mind you, the Air Force decided was second best to the more capable, more modern, more fuel efficient Northrop aircraft—an aircraft, I am proud to say, which will be built in Alabama.

“Yes, the GAO noted procedural errors in the source selection process but said its ruling did not reflect on the merits of the two aircraft.

“There is no equivocation about which plane the Air Force wants—and desperately needs—Northrop Grumman’s KC-45.

“Some in Congress have repeatedly tried to preempt regular order and take this decision away from the warfighter.

“The Pentagon is now on a 60-day clock to decide what to do about the GAO ruling—I urge my colleagues to let regular order prevail.

“Let’s not preempt the voice of our men and women who will take this plane into harm’s way. We owe them that much. Say no to the KC-X Recompete Act.”

WKRG.com » News Stream » Local

Photo

WKRG.com Related

Discuss this in the forum

Email to a Friend

Printer Friendly

rmseek1234 Says:

Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 10:04 am

continued from previous post…

Now our military is facing further delays, possibly at the cost of human life, all because these self-serving bureacrats want to further pad their pockets. If what Boeing is trying to do, in some perverse way goes through, I do hope that America will remember that this was an investment for a select few, not an investment for our men and women serving all of us.

Tihart has as much as said that there is no way to have a competition, that Boeing is the only choice. Had that been the case from the beginning, why open it to bid? Why not just underhandedly give the contract to Boeing, since they already know how to play the underhanded card? This is a democracy, not a communist nation. Nor is this the mafia-but Tihart and Dick are acting like mafia bosses or communist leaders. I would be ashamed and embarresed to support them, if I were one of their constituents.

rmseek1234 Says:

Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 9:57 am

john07hd,

Welcome to Mobile, truly. I hope you enjoy your stay. It does appear that Boeing is whining about the deal, and the more Tihart and Big Dick open their mouths and try to push for legislation so that ONLY Boeing can get the contract, it makes one wonder. What IS their motivation behind this? It is no secret that Boeing is NOT just an American company, but outsource to China, Italy and now possibly Mexico. How is that any different from the situation with EADS? EADS may would have asked for specifics, but I don’t know that they would put up the fight Boeing has. I would have hoped that IF the Army decided that Boeing had the better tanker, that would meet their needs, they would have graciously accepted that, so that plans could go forward to ensure our military has what it needs. Unfortunately, Boeing, and those that have financial interests of their own in this project cannot play a fair game. Namely, look at how much Boeing contributed to their campaigns….continued

carl Says:

Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 9:03 am

One way or the other we are learning a little more on the corruption in our government and the practices now common that our fore fathers would have already had people tared and feathered and sent out of town on the rails.

BamaBob Says:

Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 8:37 am

Just kinda makes you want to kick butt and take names….....

We need someone in the media to make some noise about this deal. Boeing has Lou Dobbs and a few kooks on talk radio denouncing the deal as unAmerican, which only takes away from the real issues in this contract. We have no one out there speaking the truth at the national level.

asda Says:

Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 7:18 am

Well you do not see our Representatives in Congress trying to pass a bill that would give a sole source contract to a company known for ripping the government and the taxpayers off. Also in that same bill it takes the ability of a rebid. How fair is it to not even allow EADS to bid on the project because of the chance Boeing will not even win.

carl Says:

Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 6:56 am

Usually you see those kinds of postings like JOHN07HD’s from people that don’t have a clue as to what Boeing is doing to their own workers and outsourcing of their work. They’re just mimicking what they’ve been told and haven’t a clue in the world what the real facts are. Probably has a lot to do with their own bank accounts as is the case of their representative from his area. They’re just hand puppets for their masters and afraid to think on their own.

rosepetal Says:

Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 5:07 am

BamaBob , lol that was a good one.

BamaBob Says:

Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 4:50 am

john07hd - Be sure to pick up a few tee shirts to take back to Kansas with you and help spread the word for us!

Can you sit there in good conscience and tell us that Boeing’s aircraft are 100% American made?

rosepetal Says:

Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 10:05 pm

john07hd , welcome to mobile, please take the opportunity to go by foosackley’s and take a finger back home to tiahrt.

rosepetal Says:

Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 10:01 pm

john07hd , just exactly who is crying now. may i refer you to all the scandals boeing has had in those 30 years. they were forced to bid and lost. sorry boeing will have to find other pork money

Boeing executives gush about “internationalizing” the company by using foreign sources for parts, labor, and new factories