Congressional Politics Should Not Drive Defense Procurement Process

This news we all can be glad about.  Too often there has been too much regard for the ‘needs’ in a Congressional district about spending pork, rather than about the national requirements for national defense.  At a time of budget concerns it is vital the White House win on this matter.  Even without economic consideration the practice of larding up defense contractors in key congressional districts reeks.

“W.H. gains momentum in F-22 fight: With a vote set for [today], the political tide in the Senate has shifted to now favor the White House and Pentagon in their pivotal fight to strike new procurement funds for the F-22 fighter. Just last week, conventional wisdom held that the $1.75 billion authorization would easily survive a challenge on the floor. But fearful of embarrassing President Barack Obama, Democrats appear to be moving back toward the White House, which has mounted its own late-breaking campaign to win the last votes. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is the public point man for the administration, making calls to senators and delivering a toughly worded speech last week in Chicago. But as the political stakes have become more evident, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has also begun working the phones, and Vice President Joe Biden last week even called his old friend, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), an ardent F-22 backer.”