[michaelcampbell]

> a long, drawn out process

It doesn't have to be that, either. A fixed, short to medium time frame will do for bids; it doesn't have to be all or nothing.

And honestly, perhaps he's 100% on the up and up (like every other politician), and Koch Industries is honest to a fault (like so many other corporations) and really DOESN'T want utilities at potentially criminally low prices; this non-bid clause give a huge appearance of impropriety. With nothing else anywhere to show that there isn't any, would it not be prudent to either explain his actions or change them accordingly?