Democratic leaders blocked such a vote arguing such an approach could hurt the environment as well as delay a transition to carbon-free, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy.
In a report earlier this week, Deshpande noted that some tablet makers have decided to delay planned launches following the aggressive pricing approach Apple took with the iPad 2, leaving prices unchanged from the original iPad despite the addition of a more powerful processors and front- and rear-facing cameras.
If past practice is any guide, the application of such a "fly-before-buy" acquisition approach would leave the Marines without an operational aircraft until the year 2005, and delay complete replacement of the CH-46 until 2015.