POGO letter to Senator Carl Levin commending the senator for blocking legislation that would have permitted the Air Force to purchase C-17's in a "commercial-like environment"
The Honorable Carl Levin
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510-6050
Via facsimile: (202) 224-1388
Dear Senator Levin:
For nearly a year, the Project On Government Oversight has investigated attempts by the Air Force to craft a sweetheart deal with Boeing Company to purchase at least 60 C-17 airlift aircraft using "commercial" procurement practices. Not only would such a plan deny taxpayers the most value for their money, but it would in effect remove government oversight of a multi-billion-dollar contract.
We commend you for ensuring that such language was not included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002. It would have been nothing short of a disaster had the Air Force been permitted to waive federal law and regulations designed to ensure that the government is not ripped-off by defense contractors.
Documents obtained by POGO in recent months have made it clear that the Air F orce ' s C-17 "commercial-like environment" proposal would put the government --and taxpayers --at extreme risk. Not only is the back-room deal tantamount to a contractor bail-out, but the lack of fmancial transparency would certainly result in government losses.
Thank you for your watchful leadership.
Sincerely,
Danielle Brian
Executive Director
POGO Staff
Oversight in your inbox
Sent Saturdays