Carl Levin

But it is not income to the employee?

This Transit Benefit Program exists in the private sector, as well; correct?

At this point if we are going to be spending $1 billion to help a fairly small percentage of Federal employees switch from single occupancy vehicle to mass transit, and in any event a fairly small percentage of Federal employees period…

There is no use having a program where anywhere close to 25 percent is abuse.

We ought to forget the program.

So the $250 million is only part of the Federal program.

If there is anything close to a 25 percent rate of abuse, ... you are talking about perhaps $150 million to $200 million of waste in 2008.

We are talking here about a significant amount of money.

I think that was at seven agencies. I misspoke.

Extrapolate that. If that were true for all of the agencies here and for all of the employees here.

The Subcommittee this afternoon looks at the Federal Transit Benefit Program.

Simply stated, our ground forces are stretched thin and equipment is wearing out faster than planned and is not being replaced in a timely manner.

The performance of newly minted option arm loans is causing us problems.

A new process without the right support would be overwhelming.

Triage means you were not providing adequate resources where they were needed.

They will be a great help but they will not start until August, right?

In Afghanistan, I believe that we have the right strategy for long-term success, but we need to improve our execution.

No, I believe Pakistan can and should do more to eliminate safe havens for terrorists in the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) of Pakistan.

Yes. As Secretary Gates has said, it is a continuing effort to get our NATO allies to increase their contributions to coalition efforts in Afghanistan.

Without those political compromises, there's not going to be an end to the conflict.

On a scale of A to F, what grade would you give the Maliki government?

So, when you ask who's to blame, in terms of the reductions in the personnel in acquisition, we have the share of our responsibility.

The failure of the Iraqi politicians to reach a political settlement that is the cause of the continuing blood shed.

Iraq's parliament in recent months has been at a standstill, with nearly every session since November adjourned.

Thank you very much, Senator Nelson.