Political Quotes

“there is a provision in our bill about a program called Joint Advanced Strike Technology, also known to industry as the joint strike fighter, that very few Members of this body have any knowledge of. Our committee recommendation in this bill on the Joint Advanced Strike Technology Program restricts funding and asks for further justification for the program. This action has been viewed as controversial by some because it is seen as directed at one particular military service. Others find our action controversial because they claim that the committee's action came as a surprise and without sufficient debate. I appreciate these views, however this body needs to more fully understand the basis for the committee's action on JAST. First, let me say that while most of you have never heard of this program called JAST, CBO estimates it is a $300 billion program. Yes, I said $300 billion. That is more than 7 B-2 programs and is well over the total amount of the entire DOD budget that we are debating. DOD wants to spend $300 billion of your money, but the Pentagon refuses to classify JAST as an acquisition program--for reasons only Pentagon lawyers can seek to justify.”