Election Year Pork: Boxer Defies Pentagon, Air Force with Aircraft Funding Push

To anyone following the news, it is unsurprising to find out that “Call me Senator!” Boxer is in a tight re-election campaign this year.  So, it’s hardly surprising to find her implying that she will put the purchase of more Boeing C-17s (produced in her state) into the defense appropriations bill.

After all, pork is the obsession of many in Congress, especially those who have little else to offer their constituents, and it becomes even more important in an election year when votes are near, dear, and hard to come by.  There are problems with pork, however, that go beyond the deficit and the corruption of the budget process.

First is the problem of unfunded mandates and additional funding that creates unfunded mandates.  The first is a problem of the first order, since the money has to come from somewhere (go take a look at NASA’s budgets over the last 20 years for a good look at the things only tenuously connected to space that have soaked up budget from activities).  While Senator Ma’am’s purchase promise will likely include funding, it creates unfunded mandates since Congress rarely adds in more than the purchase price.  They never think to include the maintenance, operations, and extra crews that will be needed.  Since they don’t, those have to come from somewhere, which means other things many not be bought — or may not fly as a result.

Second, the mandate may mean that other areas of airlift may get shorted.  The Air Force and DoD have a plan for airlift (PDF), and for air operations as a whole.  Adding in the extra C-17s may be a good thing for large-scale strategic transport, but it can also mean that other air transport assets — such as tactical airlift — may get shorted as a result.  One can argue that this is all a game, that DoD doesn’t request knowing it will be put in anyway and they can claim innocence and outrage.  That said, I have no respect for any so-called expert who would advance such a theory and imply it’s not a problem.  To boost one area can and does effect the overall balance and plan, especially when such a boost is made without consideration or input.  Congress has already funded more C-17s than wanted by the Department of Defense, and now is threatening even more.

Third, it can and does mean that we will be stuck with old technology, production methods, and limitations.  Competition does more to improve all three than almost any change in DoD procurement statements.  Competition brings out the need to bid, to offer innovations to sweeten the deal, and to put together a good package.  The net result is improved production, better technology, and usually an increase in capabilities of the aircraft.

And, the C-17 has competition.  While not politically viable, there is the Antonov AN-124.  Someday soon, they promise, Airbus will have the A-400M that could give the Boeing C-17 a good run for the money.  Finally, Lockheed has the new C-5M that offers a good challenge.

Pork can be considered business as usual, or the last refuge of a scoundrel — depending on the position you chose as a vantage point.  Given the fact that the Secretary of Defense has urged the White House to veto any bill with the purchase of additional C-17s in it, Senator Boxer’s threat to force the purchase of more C-17s smacks purely of desperation with no thought for the consequences of such actions.  Then again, it is likely that Senator Ma’am is unable to focus beyond the immediate realities of what promises to be a close election.