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Kansas Lawmakers Want Tanker Bid Extension
By Tiffany Craig Special Assignment Reporter
Published: Fri, June 27, 2008 - 6:36 pm
Last Updated: Friday, June 27, 2008 - 7:24 pm
Last Updated: Friday, June 27, 2008 - 7:24 pm
Tiffany Craig
Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions has placed a legislative hold on a bill introduced by Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts of Kansas.
The bill would require the Air Force to either give the tanker contract to Boeing or re-bid the contract under different terms.
The move by Sessions means the bill would need a yes vote from 60 senators before it could be considered.
Sessions explains his move by saying "The Air Force should have the opportunity to select the aircraft they believe best meets the needs and requirements of our troops."
A similar bill was introduced in the House of Representatives this week by Kansas Congressman Todd Tiahrt. He wants to pass what's called the Tanker Recompete Act.
News 5's Tiffany Craig asked Tiahrt to breakdown what his bill would do if passed. "First it would stop the current award to the Northrop Grumman/EADS team. The second part says if you can go ahead and award the contract to the Boeing team because they were the successful bidder on this contract according to the Government Accountability Office. The third thing that it asks for is for a re-competition based on the original requirements for a medium-sized tanker. It takes into consideration the regulations that were initially waived by the Air Force. It also takes into consideration illegal subsidies. It also takes into consideration the national industrial base and the loss of American jobs"
Congressman Jo Bonner says he laughed when he heard what Tiahrt is proposing. "Well, I sure hate that a good pine tree had to go to waste to print that bill because it's junk. It's the most protectionist piece of junk that I have seen before Congress in a long time. I hope that it gets the response that it deserves and that's a circular filing cabinet. Basically, it says to the Air Force that they can have this second best plane and that's the only thing you can have! If you want money for the tanker, then we'll give you the tanker but you have to buy the Boeing plane."
If you can't get enough of the fight over the contract, you're in luck. Clear Channel radio and the Mobile County Commission have teamed up to bring you Tanker Talk. It's a new 30 minute radio show that that will air on Mobile stations this Sunday.
Tune in at the times below or you can listen to the entire half hour on their websites.
WKSJ-FM 94.9 11 p.m.
WMXC-FM 99.9 11 p.m.
WKRH-FM 96.1 6 a.m.
WNTM-AM 710 6 a.m.
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rmseek1234 , you know that is true, had not thought about that. they did get the whole bird.