Political Quotes

“I joined with Senator Dorgan of North Dakota in offering amendment numbered 2476. It is an amendment on which we both worked. Over the years we have shared billing on it because we both believe it is essential. It is an amendment which calls for the creation of a Truman-like commission to make certain we are spending our defense dollars effectively, we are not wasting money, and that the money spent is for the security of America and the protection of our troops. In a report on defense logistics issued in March of this year, the Government Accountability Office found that U.S. troops experienced shortages in seven of the nine items that the GAO reviewed. The report reads: These shortages led in some cases to a decline in the operational capability of equipment and increased risk for troops. The items included generators for assault vehicles, armored vehicle parts, lithium batteries, meals ready to eat, truck tires, body armor, armored vehicles, and add-on armor kits. The GAO Comptroller, David Walker, testified in a Senate subcommittee hearing that the Department of Defense doesn't have a system to be able to determine with any degree of reliability and specificity how we spend tens of millions of dollars. Mr. Walker then went on to say: Trying to figure out what appropriated funds were being spent on is like pulling teeth. Shortchanging the taxpayers is not acceptable.…”