Patricia Schroeder: “first of all, let me answer why it only applies to defense contractors, and that is because of the scope of this bill…”

“first of all, let me answer why it only applies to defense contractors, and that is because of the scope of this bill which I know the gentleman understands. I obviously cannot do it for the universe because we are within this context only, so that is easy. Let me then go on and say I do not think that what we are trying to say here is not that they cannot lobby, it is that they cannot use Federal funds that they are getting for this to keep lobbying to get more. It is like once you get in the trough, you just keep getting more to feed more, which was what the concern was, I think, in the Istook amendment when people were concerned that some of the agencies might use some of the Federal money that was supposed to go to beneficiaries instead of lobbying to get more. Mr. Chairman, I think the analysis here is rather similar. We want the analysis to be on a threat based by neutral people rather than people who got a lot of money to manufacture something or make something, then trying to find out more reasons and spend the same money to spin more reasons to convince us we should buy even more for them. That is a heck of a deal. That is a heck of a deal. Those regulations you are showing, this person has been trying for 20 years to find ways to close that door. We have never been able to really close that door very well.”