Lawmakers Demand Answers on $50-Million, Sequester-Eve TSA Uniform Deal

I'd love to hear how they plan on squirming out of this explanation. Especially when you consider the comments and fear mongering released by Big Sis (Janet) herself.

Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and John Mica (R-Fla.) have sent a letter to the administrator of the Transportation and Security Administration John Pistole, demanding answers regarding the $50-million uniform contract the agency sealed just days before the sequester budget cuts took effect.

the TSA awarded the contract to VF Imagewear on Feb. 27, two days before $44 billion in automatic across-the-board spending cuts, known as the sequester, began being implemented on March 1.

By Mar. 4, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was warning of long lines at airports due to furloughs at the TSA because of the budget cuts, which are actually reductions in the increase in spending – more money total will be spent in 2013 than in 2012.

The oversight committees are asking the TSA if “any consideration” was made to delay the uniform contract in light of the impending sequester.

In addition, Chaffetz and Mica want to know: the total anticipated value of the contract; if it includes a “Buy America” provision; the current uniform allowance for TSA employees; how much the TSA has spent on uniforms per year since 2010; and what percentage of the uniforms are made in the United States.

“[S]ome reports indicate that VF Imagewear’s uniforms are partly made in Mexico,” Chaffetz and Mica said.

The TSA has until April 11 to respond to this request... Should be interesting considering the numbers of illegals crossing our borders have apparently doubled in anticipation of sweeping immigration reform and the convenient coincidence of the downsizing and furloughed Border patrol agents due to sequester cuts.

Why a last minute sequester eve deal to lock up a $50 million contract to supply the TSA with more uniforms? They get a fatter allowance than our active duty soldiers get.

cnsnews.com...

Meh

Let me get this straight they spend millions getting us out of clothes they spend millions putting our gropers in clothes!

reply to post by neo96


Being stripped and frisked doesn't feel so "dirty" if the perpetrator of said frisk is well dressed and neatly groomed. Often smelling of an overdose of vintage 1987 Polo cologne.

50 million on uniforms bothers them, but loosing Constitutional rights they're okay with.

i'm tired of hearing how "the lawmakers" care so much about little stuff but totally ignore our country going to hell. we're so done.

$50 million? Those are some swanky duds! That's a lot of investment on uniforms that look like the rent a cop from the mall, what do they do, spend money on ribbons and medals for their outstanding performance of successfully keeping travelers angry, and allow terrorists to carry knives on planes?

reply to post by eXia7


Those are combat ribbons earned while doing battle with overweight inexperienced tourists who may or may not have a bad case of B.O. as a result of running between terminals to catch a flight. Combat medals for groping with one hand while the other is operating the hand held metal detecting wand over a veterans removed prosthetic leg. Its tough in the TSA trenches...

(sarcasm off)

Why is this news!? 50 million? Really? Are things that tight in the government? Maybe they should start looking under the couch cushions like every other person.

reply to post by superman2012


It's only news because the deal was inked on the eve of the much feared Sequester that was soon followed by Janet's fear mongering that due to heavy cuts in the TSA, travelers would experience long airport delays, they would cut back on border controls, release illegal immigrants from jail etc etc. Meanwhile, they had just inked $50 million for a ONE year uniform contract. Components of these uniforms are even manufactured in Mexico... Thank NAFTA for that. We can't even keep the money within our borders.

Its just one big flippin mess. If the govt. could actually establish a budget and stick to a budget and eventually balance a budget this type of spending would be scrutinized to a far greater degree and would not be such a big deal. The playing favorites with the federal blank checks is out of control and the sequester BS was just that. Pure BS.