Tanker Reverberations: Reaction varied on Capitol Hill after Monday’s news that Northrop Grumman was exiting the Air Force KC-X tanker competition. (See below, Opting Out) The mood was dark out of Alabama, where Northrop and its partner EADS North America would have built their tankers. Sen. Richard Shelby (R) said, “The Air Force blew it,” claiming the competition had been set up unfairly, while his colleague Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) opined that it was “truly a dark day” for the Pentagon. Conversely, in Washington and Kansas, where Boeing would assemble its tankers, the sentiment was upbeat. For example, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) called it a “great day” for warfighters. Here’s a sampling:
Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) statement
Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) statement
Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) statement
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) statement
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) statement
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) statement
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) statement
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) statement
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) statement