U.S. SEN. Jeff Sessions deserves credit for insisting on the fairest possible competition for the aerial refueling tanker defense contract that could bring 1,500 jobs to his hometown.
This week, Sen. Sessions, R-Mobile, attached an amendment to the Senate's version of the defense bill, calling for the Air Force to "hold a full and open competition" for the contract estimated at $40 billion. Senators supported him unanimously.
The competition for the contract to build 179 new tankers is between Northrop Grumman and EADS North America, which would build KC-30 tankers in Mobile, and Boeing Co., which would build KC-767 aircraft in Washington state.
Sen. Sessions' amendment directly addresses the contention by some experts that Boeing could win the contract at least in part because its political connections are superior to those of Northrop Grumman and EADS.
Although Sen. Sessions obviously would rather see the project come to Mobile, all he's asking for is a level playing field.
If the bidding process is handled in an even-handed fashion, then the Air Force can judge which plane would do the best job for America's defense.
Senators have demonstrated that they agree.
"This amendment sends the message that merit, not politics, should be the basis for the selection," Sen. Sessions said.
The overall defense bill must pass the full Senate and then go to a House/Senate conference committee for resolution with the House version.
If the Senate amendment calling for fair competition gets stripped in the process, it will be very interesting to learn who did it and why.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, was doing his part to advocate competition and to combat the shortsighted objections from those opposed to the involvement of a foreign corporation (EADS) in a U.S. military aircraft.
Rep. Bonner joined a Northrop executive for a news briefing in which they pointed out that foreign manufacturers are heavily involved in several other important U.S. weapons programs.
Mobile, having just landed the German ThyssenKrupp AG steel plant, knows well the impact that today's global economy can have on a community if its leaders understand and take advantage of opportunities that transcend borders.
Isolationism has no place in Mobile, and it should have no place in Congress.
The Press-Register editorial board is convinced that when the technology and designs are studied and the capabilities of each aircraft are compared, the Northrop/EADS KC-30 tanker will prove to be the superior choice for the Air Force.
Who makes the better aerial refueling tanker for the best price ought to be the criteria on which the decision is made.
Members of Congress and top-ranking Air Force officials certainly ought to understand that the need to provide America's troops with the best equipment available is more important than politics.