John Ensign: “I will give the Senate a more specific example. I will not use the exact example I had mentioned to the Senator from…”

“I will give the Senate a more specific example. I will not use the exact example I had mentioned to the Senator from Mississippi previously because I don't think it is appropriate to discuss specifics like this on the Senate floor. The military tells Congress that they need certain items for the troops. They want something produced. Perhaps similar products are produced in different States so there are competing products. The military has said, We like this item made by one company, it is far superior. What is happening today is that some members, perhaps one on the Military Subcommittee on Appropriations, who represent a state with a similar product will use their influence to direct spending to products made in their own State. Even though the Pentagon says we like product A, Congress tells them they must buy product B. When the bill comes back from conference, spending gets shifted. Spending is earmarked to go to one product instead of for a product that the military said would be best for our fighting men and women. That is exactly some of the things we are trying to avoid.”