I think that's a critically important weapons program for us to maintain air superiority long into the future.

Are we rushing to deploy a system that has not been adequately tested?

The marines recently engaged in a contract to buy sets of what is called LAST ceramic armor for HMMWV's in Iraq.

Will we look back and say we would have better used that $10 plus billion in another area?

I hope that those men and women who serve under you understand the gratitude of this committee and that this country is grateful for their service.

I'm not altogether sure, having watched the Pentagon plan in the long term, that we know what's going to happen 5 and 10 years from now with respect to our needs.

Well, I would expect everyone on this committee would feel that we don't want to withhold $1 that is necessary for the safety of the troops that we've put in harm's way.

I don't think we will withhold one dollar that's needed to support the troops, who we have asked to fight for this country.

States should not balance their budgets on the backs of Indian governments. It's patently unfair.

When the economy turns a bit south or a bit sour. So State governments have some very significant problems of their own to confront.

voice-tracking seems to me to be antithetical to localism

That is the reason I raised the point, not just about entertainment, but about political discourse...