Newt Gingrich in Stand For Something, by John Kasich


On Homeland Security: 1980s: Supported squadron of 132 B-2 stealth bombers

[In the 1980s], at a budget meeting in Newt Gingrich's office, it was not considered good politics to go up against the pro-defense lobby, especially for a Republican.

But I didn't think it was good government to keep signing up for these ridiculous expenditures. Most ridiculous of all, I came to think, was the development of the B-2 stealth bomber. At anywhere from $1 billion to $2 billion per plane, it seemed a colossal misuse of taxpayer monies.

And we weren't talking about just one B-2. Initially, there was to be a squadron of 132 of these bombers, a number that was whittled down to 75 and eventually to 20, although that figure remained open for discussion.

At one point, Dick Cheney made a deal with me to freeze the number of planes o order at 20, in exchange for my agreeing to back down in my fight, which Newt Gingrich and company could then take as my grudging support. We even shook hands on it, and yet a year or so later Cheney was out there thumping for 40.

Source: Stand For Something, by John Kasich, p. 92-94 May 23, 2007

The above quotations are from Stand For Something:
The Battle for America's Soul
,
by Rep. John Kasich.
Click here for other excerpts from Stand For Something:
The Battle for America's Soul
,
by Rep. John Kasich
.
Click here for other excerpts by Newt Gingrich.
Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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