Political Quotes

“Madam Chairman, this month the House has voted twice to strike problematic and anti-competitive A-76 language from H.R. 2112, the Agriculture appropriations bill, and H.R. 2017, the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. The same change and reversal of bad language should be adopted in legislation today by striking this anti-competitive language. My amendment would strike section 8101 of this legislation, which as drafted prohibits the use of funds in the underlying bill to convert any functions performed by Federal employees to private competition pursuant to a study conducted under OMB Circular A-76. A-76 cost competitions between the public and private sector bring the best value to the taxpayer. Lifting the current moratorium will reform the way the Department of Defense does business, allowing the flexibility to manage the most effective and efficient cost ways in supporting the mission of the Department of Defense. The role of government should be to govern, not to operate business inside the government. Currently, the Federal Government employs some 2 million executive branch, nonpostal, full-time, and permanent employees; 850,000 of these employees hold jobs that are commercial in nature. The underlying principle of A-76 is that the government should consider private sector performance of commercial services where appropriate. This notion has been consistently embraced by administrations of both political parties for more than 60 years.…”