The nation’s top taxpayer and budget watchdog groups, representing millions of taxpayers, joined today in a common cause to make sure the Defense Department’s purchasing and contracting process remains open and fair.  These groups remember all too well the original tanker lease deal – a $23 billion earmark, tucked into the 2003 Defense Appropriations Act conference report by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), directing the Air Force to lease 100 refueling tankers from Boeing Corporation.  There were no hearings or opportunities for debate for the no-bid lease, and the subsequent investigations not only stopped the deal, but also uncovered a scandal, which lead to guilty pleas, jail time, and a $600 million fine for Boeing.

In 2006, the Air Force held an open and competitive bid and on February 29, 2008 awarded the contract for its new KC-45A tanker to Northrop Grumman and its prime sub-contractor the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).  Some members of Congress have expressed anger and annoyance with the decision.  There have even been threats to cut off funding for the project.  Out of concern for the procurement process, the undersigned organizations agree that:

The procurement process should be open and fair;

The recent process used by the U.S. Air Force to award the contract for its next generation of aerial refueling tankers was open, transparent, fair, and competitive;

The former process, which awarded a lease to Boeing through an earmark in the 2003 Defense Appropriations Conference Report, was not a wise use of tax dollars and led to corruption;

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) should be allowed to conduct its independent review of Boeing’s appeal without Congressional interference; and

Congress should not attempt to overturn the Air Force’s contract award if the GAO delivers a clean bill of health for the procurement process.

Organizations here…