George Voinovich: “It provides that if the Government employees lose the competition, they will have a right to appeal, just as the private…”

“It provides that if the Government employees lose the competition, they will have a right to appeal, just as the private sector has a right of appeal. So we are giving them that opportunity. We are eliminating the every 5-year competition if it is won in-house. It also provides that if the private sector gets the work, it has to go to American people and not be farmed out overseas. I believe this amendment, plus the revised A-76 regulation, is a far better system than going back to something that we acknowledged back in 2001 was not working. We fixed it. It may not be perfect. I am not saying it is. I am not saying that everybody agrees with it. But it is a far cry better than to go back to what we had before. Fundamentally, I think the other side wants to go back there because there are many people who are opposed to competitive bidding. I want everyone to know, competitive bidding ought to be something that is available to the administrative branch of Government, but it ought to be something that is carefully considered before they go forward and do it. My feeling always is, I would rather stay with the people who are working in the Federal Government and give them the training, the empowerment, and tools to get the job done. We have leveled the playing field. We slowed down the process. I believe with Clay Johnson over there at OMB and with Kay James over at OPM, we have two outstanding people. That is what it is about, the integrity of the people.…”