Keith Ashdown
Keith Ashdown
best government shows strive
This shows the best government contractors don't always get hired, the most politically influential do. We need to strive for more competitive bidding.
learn money months stolen wasted
We will learn months after the money was wasted or stolen that it was wasted and stolen.
basically jury
He's basically judge, jury and executioner for all this money.
balances checks fact money spent sure
The fact is, there are not the checks and balances to make sure the money is spent well.
biggest brought champion defense increase lewis smart
We used to think that Mr. Lewis would be a champion for smart spending. But he brought us the biggest increase in defense earmarking in history.
anyone iraq money people precedent presence watching
Our Iraq presence isn't going away; the only thing going away is the people watching how the money is being spent. If you don't have anyone watching it, the precedent is that the money will be wasted.
added conference creates deterrent good last
It is a good reform. It creates an added deterrent to things being added (to conference reports) at the last minute.
campaign employ sure thousands trying win
Lawmakers are not trying to win campaign cash. They are trying to make sure that they employ thousands of people.
cut fly pigs
Pigs will fly before we cut this pork. I don't know how we'll make this happen.
congress gorilla happen major nobody program protecting talking
The only thing I think can happen is that (Congress enacts) a very large, across-the-board cut, ... and nobody is talking about that. Every major program has an 800-pound gorilla protecting it.
budgetary easy federal fights footprint gorilla hard item known limit tick
We've known for years that there are some easy things on paper. But it's politically hard to limit the budgetary footprint of the federal government. Any item you try and cut, you're going to tick off an 800-pound gorilla that fights with a sledgehammer.
best change disclose discourse public review time
Transparency is the best disinfectant. If they would disclose everything and give the public time to review it, that would change the discourse dramatically.
alaska call hollywood north vancouver
You know how they call Vancouver 'North Hollywood'? Well, Alaska could become 'North North Hollywood,'
bosses bunch buzzing congress flies represent treat
You can't treat the Congress like they're a bunch of buzzing flies around your head, ... They're your bosses because they represent the American taxpayers.