Ernest Istook: “Mr. Chairman, we just went through much of this same debate. Whether you are saying you are totally restricting it or…”

“Mr. Chairman, we just went through much of this same debate. Whether you are saying you are totally restricting it or partially restricting it, we are really talking about the same thing on the competitive sourcing process, the A-76 process. First, the amendment the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) offers is not going to become law, because if it is in the bill, the President will veto the bill. We have gone through this argument before in prior years. This is a very important initiative to the administration and to the taxpayers of the United States to allow the opportunity for government to be more efficient; to allow competitive sourcing that tells the private sector and the government sector, each of you sharpen your pencils and find the most cost-effective and efficient and successful way to do the work. And typically we are not talking about things that are inherently governmental. We are talking about everything from food service contracts to building maintenance contracts, the kind of work that does not require someone to be a government employee either for issues of performance or safety or security. We are not competitive sourcing jobs that involve those areas. If we want the taxpayers to save billions of dollars, if we want the typical savings of 20 to 30 percent, we should not be trying to restrict competition. Government too often claims a monopoly.”