Scorpion89
Banned
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- May 29, 2009
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Obama Threatens to Veto His Own Defense Bill Over F-22 Funding - Political News - FOXNews.com
It's not every day that a president threatens to veto his own defense spending bill.
But that's the rare position President Obama finds himself taking after senators made an 11th hour addition of $1.75 billion to buy seven F-22 fighter jets whose price tag has ballooned to about $350 million apiece.
The fifth generation fighter jet has been overtaken by the newer F-35, critics argue, and Obama wants to keep with the recommendation of former President George W. Bush and cap the purchase at 187 jets.
The president's not alone in opposing the change. He's also got the Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee, Sen. Carl Levin, and his former GOP rival Sen. John McCain -- a war hero himself -- on his side.
But with jobs on the line, other senators are putting up a fight for the F-22.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., whose state would lose at least 2,000 jobs should the cap be imposed, pushed for the seven extra F-22's to be built.
"While the administration is emphasizing winning current conflicts, its stance regarding the F-22 does not adequately account for other kinds of threats," Chambliss said.
But the F-22 requires 30 hours of maintenance for every hour of flying time and costs the taxpayer about $44,000 an hour to fly, according to confidential Pentagon test results.
First Off their should be no Cap on the F-22 this 350 Million Price tag is a bogus claim and has been all along. As for the Pentagon Report I call some real BS on this. I know for a fact that the numbers the USAF stated and what actually is in the field are far and wide try maybe 11.5 hours for every 2 hours of flight. But hey if the USAF wants to start throwing these number around then I say great lets release what the numbers are for the F-16 Block 45-65 and the F-15E Block 50 or the B-1B and B-52. Or better yet how about what the time is for 89th Airlift Wing which provide 24/7 SAM to the White House and Congress.
As for the F-35 please that junk box want even be in active squadrons for at least 5 more years and into the Fleet for at least 6.
It's not every day that a president threatens to veto his own defense spending bill.
But that's the rare position President Obama finds himself taking after senators made an 11th hour addition of $1.75 billion to buy seven F-22 fighter jets whose price tag has ballooned to about $350 million apiece.
The fifth generation fighter jet has been overtaken by the newer F-35, critics argue, and Obama wants to keep with the recommendation of former President George W. Bush and cap the purchase at 187 jets.
The president's not alone in opposing the change. He's also got the Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee, Sen. Carl Levin, and his former GOP rival Sen. John McCain -- a war hero himself -- on his side.
But with jobs on the line, other senators are putting up a fight for the F-22.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., whose state would lose at least 2,000 jobs should the cap be imposed, pushed for the seven extra F-22's to be built.
"While the administration is emphasizing winning current conflicts, its stance regarding the F-22 does not adequately account for other kinds of threats," Chambliss said.
But the F-22 requires 30 hours of maintenance for every hour of flying time and costs the taxpayer about $44,000 an hour to fly, according to confidential Pentagon test results.
First Off their should be no Cap on the F-22 this 350 Million Price tag is a bogus claim and has been all along. As for the Pentagon Report I call some real BS on this. I know for a fact that the numbers the USAF stated and what actually is in the field are far and wide try maybe 11.5 hours for every 2 hours of flight. But hey if the USAF wants to start throwing these number around then I say great lets release what the numbers are for the F-16 Block 45-65 and the F-15E Block 50 or the B-1B and B-52. Or better yet how about what the time is for 89th Airlift Wing which provide 24/7 SAM to the White House and Congress.
As for the F-35 please that junk box want even be in active squadrons for at least 5 more years and into the Fleet for at least 6.