HAC-D

Global Hawks Sitting In A Hangar ‘Not Acceptable’ To Norm Dicks; Hints At Legislation

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CAPITOL HILL: The congressional fight over the fate of Northrop Grumman’s 18 Global Hawk Block 30s is on, led so far by Rep. Norm Dicks on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee.

“The idea we would spend all this money to buy them and then put them in a hangar is just unacceptable,” said Dicks, ranking member on the HAC-D. The Air Force, Dicks told the assembled senior Air Force leaders, “must” find a use for the aircraft, perhaps NATO, the Navy or another group might be able to use them. He was not alone. Reps. Jim Moran and Jo Bonner joined him in raising fundamental questions about the Air Force decision to save an estimated $2.5 billion over the next five years. Keep reading →

Published March 6, 2012 at 2:26 PM

Rep. Norm Dicks, Boeing Stalwart, Leaving Congress; He ‘Will Always Be My Chairman’

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WASHINGTON: Norm Dicks, one of the toughest and most engaging players in Congress, announced today that he will not run for Congress again after 36 years serving his country.

Dicks became best known in recent years for his hard-edged and sometimes unquestioning support for Boeing on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee. His advocacy of the company could sometimes veer perilously close to pitchman. I still remember him approaching reporters outside the House Armed Services Committee’s hearing room and telling us about a “study” that proved Boeing’s offering for what became the botched airborne tanker contract would be much cheaper than competitor Northrop Grumman’s offering. Left unsaid, until we asked, was that the “study” had been done by a consultant working for Boeing. Boeing, after losing the $35 billion contract once, won it after the contest was reshaped by the Pentagon. Many observers believed Dicks successfully drove the military to reshape the contest to Boeing’s advantage. Keep reading →

Published March 2, 2012 at 4:00 PM