Political Quotes

“the White House and the Government Operations Committee have been poised for several months to enact real and meaningful reform in the way the Federal Government buys goods and services. American taxpayers and industry were poised to enjoy the benefits that this reform would provide. Unfortunately, earlier this morning the House Armed Services Committee chose politics over reform. The HASC chose to fight an inside-the-beltway battle instead of enacting significant procurement reform. They decided to risk reform in order to try to grab additional jurisdiction for themselves. To my colleagues who believe that the current procurement system costs too much, has too much redtape, and ill-serves the American taxpayer, I would urge you to communicate to the members of the HASC that we need reform--not business as usual politics. Chairman Conyers and I were prepared to let the Parliamentarian rule on the jurisdictional issues involved in the reform bill. For whatever reason, the HASC is holding procurement reform hostage until Government Operations cedes to others its longstanding jurisdiction for Governmentwide procurement. I am disappointed over today's events and disheartened that the HASC has put procurement reform in danger. I urge my colleagues at the HASC to reconsider their position, and to join with us in bringing a strong, substantive reform package to the floor as soon as possible.”