Saturday, June 7, 2008

The May 31 front-page story "McCain Campaign Calls; A Nonprofit Steps In" implied that there was an improper relationship between Sen. John McCain and Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) relating to our support of an impartial and competitive vetting process for the Air Force's refueling tanker contract. This contract, initially valued at $35 billion, could ultimately cost an estimated $100 billion.

In fact, Citizens Against Government Waste has been involved with the refueling tanker issue since 2002 for only one reason: to fulfill its mission to fight government waste, fraud and abuse. The organization's efforts to kill the original no-bid lease agreement with Boeing Co. helped save taxpayers $23 billion.

Our work on procurement dates to the Grace Commission in 1984 and the exposure of the Pentagon's purchase of a $436 hammer and $640 toilet seat. It would have been contrary to that lengthy track record to remain silent after the tanker contract award and the public debate over its merits.

As an organization that has been cited as an "equal opportunity nag" and "Washington's leading opponent of pork-barrel spending," Citizens Against Government Waste serves no one other than its members and the taxpayers in carrying out its waste-fighting agenda.

THOMAS A. SCHATZ

President

Citizens Against Government Waste

Washington