Senators nix second Joint Strike Fighter engine

[babylonsister]

Senators nix second Joint Strike Fighter engine
By Roxana Tiron
Posted: 07/23/09 01:27 PM


Senators on Thursday agreed to scuttle money for a second engine powering the new Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), handing President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates another victory on a major Pentagon policy bill this week.

The Senate agreed by voice vote to a bipartisan amendment to strike funding from the 2010 defense authorization bill for an engine produced by General Electric and Rolls-Royce.

President Obama has threatened to veto the 2010 defense authorization bill over a provision authorizing $438.9 million for a secondary engine to power the Pentagon’s newest fighter jet if it seriously disrupts the overall program. Obama even went as far as singling out the alternative engine program as wasteful when he unveiled his first budget request in May.

On the eve of the Senate vote, Gates fired off a missive to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Obama’s one-time rival, reiterating the veto threat and making the case that the primary engine is performing well.

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http://thehill.com/business--lobby/senators-nix-funding-for-second-joint-strike-fighter-engine-2009-07-23.html