"Breakaway!" Tanker Rebid Not Connecting With Washington State Lawamakers.

Lawmakers from Washington state threatened congressional action Wednesday as the Pentagon opened a second round of bidding for a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract.

By MATTHEW DALY
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON —
Lawmakers from Washington state threatened congressional action Wednesday as the Pentagon opened a second round of bidding for a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said she will block Senate action on President Bush's nomination of Michael Donley to be Air Force secretary because she is not satisfied that he and Pentagon officials will conduct a fair rebid.

Under Senate rules, any senator can prevent action on a nomination or legislation by issuing a "hold," or block. Cantwell said she will continue the hold until her concerns about the tanker competition are resolved.

Other Washington legislators also took issue with a revised draft request for proposals to build 179 aerial refueling tankers to replace the Air Force's aging fleet.

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The proposal, the latest in a six-year effort to secure new tankers, seems to favor the design offered by Northrop Grumman Corp. and Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., which is locked in a bitter battle with Boeing Co. for the lucrative deal, said Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash.

The revision "includes substantive changes that appear to favor a tanker larger than any real-world scenarios would require," Dicks said.

"Since the department seems to be confused on what type of tanker it believes is needed at this time, I believe that moving forward with such a large procurement in such a precipitous manner is inadvisable, and I believe that it's time for Congress to exert greater control of this process," he said.

"After going round after round on one of our military's most important and critically needed procurements, this draft RFP (request for proposals) changes the rules of the game in overtime," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.