Administration Opposes Restrictions

The Bush administration has said it “strongly opposes” attempts to restrict the contracting-out program, to the extent of threatening to veto bills containing such provisions. For example, in comments on the Interior Department bill, the administration said: “Now is the wrong time to short-circuit implementation of the common-sense principle of competition-a proven way of protecting taxpayers’ dollars while providing better service and performance enhancements, especially since numerous agencies are starting to make real progress. Prohibiting funding for public-private competitions is akin to mandating a monopoly regardless of the impact on services to citizens and the added cost to taxpayers. If the final version of the bill were to contain such a provision, the President’s senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.”