Political Quotes

“By providing for the lease of only 20 planes, and by putting the bulk of this acquisition back into the traditional budget, procurement and authorization process, this compromise is estimated to save taxpayers over $4 billion. I would like to take this opportunity to correct the legislative record. In a colloquy in the House among Chairman Hunter and Congressmen Dicks and Tiahrt, it was stated that this compromise codified an agreement with the administration as set forth in a November 5, 2003, letter to me from Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz. For the record, the compromise does not endorse or codify any such agreement. The compromise is intended to ensure that Defense Department acquires tankers in a manner that meets its own needs, but also the needs and interests of taxpayers. While the Air Force maintained that its original lease proposal achieved this goal, it clearly did not. I fully expect the Defense Department to execute the terms of this compromise in a manner that fully protects American taxpayers' interests.”