Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, this is a very difficult situation where we are posited between two committee chairmen, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Clinger]; the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, and the gentlewoman from Kansas [Mrs. Meyers] the chairwoman of the Committee on Small Business. Both of these chairmen have as their goal the streamlining of the acquisition process because it is good for the Government and it is good for businesses of all types. I think, however, we have to take a closer look at the reason for the Collins-Meyers amendment, and that is to ensure that small businesses have a stake in the procurement process. Mr. Chairman, we can go through the different organizations that are for and against this bill, but I think probably the most compelling reason for the Collins-Meyers amendment is by the inspector general of the Department of Defense, a person who is in a civil service position. This is a nonpolitical position. I would quote briefly from the remarks from the letter that is opposed to the underlying bill and it states as follows: It says, under the definition section, the word competitive procedures would have an added definition of 'open access.' We disagree with the changes. The revised definition of competitive procedures would allow the contracting officer to limit competition on the basis of efficiency.”