Pendulum Swinging?

Over the course of late summer and fall, Congress appeared to cool to the idea of forcing the Pentagon to award two KC-X tanker contracts—the so-called split-buy approach—in the face of continued Pentagon resistance to the notion. Now, however, the Press-Enterprise reports that Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) says he can “sense growing support for a dual source, particularly within the Democratic caucus.” Davis believes, “The reason is simple: You’d start building tankers sooner and create an economic stimulus in multiple cities.” The Pentagon maintains the split-buy approach would cost more; lawmakers have said it may be the only way out of a political quagmire. Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), chairman of the House defense appropriations panel and long-time proponent of the split-buy, was expected to try to resurrect the idea earlier this month with Pentagon leaders.