John Doolittle: “I will just observe that there are other claims as well that the district in the settlement will forgo against the…”

“I will just observe that there are other claims as well that the district in the settlement will forgo against the Government. If we delay this settlement, in essence not delay it but we will abrogate the settlement by failing to pass this bill, the taxpayer is at far greater risk. Right now that $13.9 million of obligation for repayment by the district to the Federal Government is over 45 years. But, in fact, the net present value, which I think is undisputed of that $13.9 million, is $4.2 million. That is what the district is agreeing is the net present value and they are offsetting their payment to the Government of that $4.2 million against the $4.5 million that the Government acknowledges is valid in the district's claims against the Government. And then these other claims that are referenced in a CBO letter and that we have talked about, those other claims are also being forgone. So I think it is not fair to say the district is not paying anything. The district has been saddled with this thing for years. It does not work. The Government would not go ahead and admit that the claims by the district were valid if they did not feel that they had an overwhelming liability on their part. This is, after all, the Justice Department that is involved in this. The Clinton administration itself supports this. The Citizens Against Government Waste supports this bill.”