If true, this would really ease the political tension surrounding this contract.
Murtha: May expand tanker purchases(POLITICO) The Obama administration may be willing to consider buying aerial refueling tankers from more than one company, the chairman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee indicated on Wednesday.
If so, it would be a dramatic reversal for Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has vowed to prevent the possibility, saying it would cost the government too much money.
But the powerful subcommittee chairman, Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), and other lawmakers have been pushing the idea of buying tankers from several companies, hoping to stave off future challenges to a contract award that have in the past derailed progress on the program. Last summer, Boeing successfully overturned a contract to Northrop Grumman, worth up to $35 billion, and new bidding has yet to begin.
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if rep martha(d) is telling the president what he wants why is mr. gates defense sec??? maybe cause the lobbyists for boeing have alot more money to offer the REP.