In defeat for Boehner, House votes to eliminate funding for second F-35 jet engine

Washingtonpost ^

[ChicagoConservative27]

The House on Wednesday narrowly approved an amendment that would eliminate funding for a second engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a move that would contribute an additional $450 million to the estimated $61 billion in federal spending cuts that House Republicans have proposed for the rest of the current fiscal year.

The amendment, offered by two-term Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.), passed the House on a 233-to-198 vote. Its passage was a victory for conservative Republicans as well as Defense Secretary Robert Gates, both of whom had criticized the alternate-engine program as unnecessary and wasteful.

[Yo-Yo]

The F136 engine is a joint venture between GE and Rolls-Royce. Let the Brits fund the remainder of the program if they think it’s a good idea.

[Cicero]

Especially since Rolls Royce is British and GE is now apparently Chinese.

[M. Dodge Thomas]

Boehner was in a politically tough spot on this one: there will been economic spillover into his district from closing down the program, and a lot of polling showing that voters are reluctant to support spending cuts that have a direct adverse affect on their own pocketbooks.

[DesertRhino]

GE has given us the finger a lot the last few years,,, windmills,,, Obamao support,,,

I’m glad they lost.

[griswold3]

In our area, we’ve noticed Obama fulfilling his promise to ‘reward his friends’ and ‘punish his enemies’.
This is just another example.

[Tatze]

From what I’m reading, the Pentagon doesn’t want the second engines. So why force them to be made? If they are not wanted, then cut it! Defense should not be exempted from budget cuts. There is room for cut in EVERY department, including defense!

[lurk]

Gotta cut funding. Even if it’s a juicy defense project.

[M. Dodge Thomas]

Grr... “effect”, not “affect” - I *do* know the difference.

[RobbyS]

Might as well make some cuts in defense now, because if the Obama budget goes through, defense spending will be radically slowed by 2015—I mean radically. There will be a retreat from the Middle East and even in the Pacific.

[ken5050]

Pelosi just Tweeted: Republicans are putting our brave pilots in danger by sending our planes into combat with only ONE engine...

[newzjunkey]

From what I’m reading, the Pentagon doesn’t want the second engines. So why force them to be made?

The pork barrel Congress knows best, don't ya know?

[DustyMoment]

The House on Wednesday narrowly approved an amendment that would eliminate funding for a second engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter . . . .

S, the F-35 has to get by with just one engine!!!??? What's up with that????

[MontaniSemperLiberi]

Do we have a roll call record somewhere?

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Pelosi just Tweeted: Republicans are putting our brave pilots in danger by sending our planes into combat with only ONE engine...

[old curmudgeon]

WE are DOOMED.

Next they will be sending our brave pilots into combat with only one wing!!

[af_vet_rr]

From what I’m reading, the Pentagon doesn’t want the second engines. So why force them to be made? If they are not wanted, then cut it! Defense should not be exempted from budget cuts. There is room for cut in EVERY department, including defense!

Because it means jobs cuts in certain Congressional districts and the Congress critters prefer to try and bribe/reward their constituents as much as possible - Brown and Kerry are also huge supporters of this.

You see, the critters in Congress are okay about trying to reign in the federal budget as long as it's not in their district or state.