Byron Dorgan: “This is not Republican or Democratic, conservative or liberal. It is about being smart and doing the right thing. We…”

“This is not Republican or Democratic, conservative or liberal. It is about being smart and doing the right thing. We have had a lot of circumstances in recent weeks and months where our country has dropped the ball. I mentioned the response to Katrina. I mentioned contracting in Iraq and a range of things. I believe we must do better than that. Some of it stems from these big sole-source, no-bid contracts. That is too sweet a deal. What you need is competition. We do not want to have this Government favoring one company versus another with sole- source, no-bid contracts. That is an invitation for waste, in my judgment. I know we have a pretty substantial schedule. I know Senator Frist has indicated his agenda, what he wants to bring to the floor of the Senate in the coming weeks and months. But let me say I hope we will have time to deal with this issue of honest government and accountability in contracting. That is a piece of legislation that is urgently needed to be passed. I also hope, in the near future, whether it is 45 days or whatever the days, they are going to continue to review the question of whether the United Arab Emirates should be managing America's ports. Whenever that is done, my hope is we will have up-or-down votes here in the Congress about whether we think this makes any sense at all. I agree with Congressman Hunter. Put me down on the side of wanting to protect this country's interests.…”