Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I sincerely believe we can improve Government procurement. There are many provisions in this bill that were developed in a very bipartisan manner to reduce the number of steps in the procurement process. In fact, many of these changes were recommended by Vice President Gore. We have disagreed on just one item, the requirement that we have full and open competition. Full and open competition reduces the cost of the Government, it does not add to the burden of procurement. Full and open competition lets new business, small business, compete. Our amendment would also give necessary flexibility to Government officials to discuss with businesses whether they have a chance to win any kind of procurement opportunity, so that companies with hopeless causes can voluntarily withdraw. This is not adding anything, this is in fact helping to streamline the whole process while keeping full and open competition. Full and open competition actually keeps bureaucrats from using prejudice and an old boy network to exclude worthy businesses. That is all we are talking about. That is all we are going to be talking about in my amendment. It just seems to me that we have to make a case for full and open competition. If it were not for this one hang-up that we have in this legislation, we would be on our way home right now. We could have probably voted for this piece of legislation and have been out of here.”