F136 Kill Try Fails First Time

F136 Kill Try Fails First Time

By Colin Clark Thursday, May 27th, 2010 5:14 pm
Posted in Air, International, Policy
The amendment to strip funding for the Joint Strike Fighter’s second engine was temporarily defeated this afternoon but its fate remained in doubt as we went to press. A source watching the vote said the White House is pressing hard on the floor, trying to round up enough votes to kill the F136.
Here’s what the House Clerk reported:
4:17 P.M. - POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS — At the conclusion of debate on the Pingree amendment number 80, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Pingree demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
We will update this as we get information.

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@E_L_P May 27th, 2010 at 10:12 pm

$15B carriers (along with faulty EMALS), $5-6B dreadnoughts called “destroyers”. Over-priced subs. Corvettes with a destroyer price tag known as the Littoral Combat Gyp” and other gross waste; including the Joint Strike Failure.

But yeah, this is important for sure.

SymbolicalHead May 27th, 2010 at 11:05 pm

Usually if a gov’t program exists, I want to see it canceled. I wouldn’t even mind seeing the whole JSF canceled.

However, not in the case of the F136. I’m strongly suspicious when Lockheed and P&W want something killed off because it is too expensive. I’m also suspicious when the WH, which gladly spends on anything and everything, wants it killed.

The hypocrisy is just too thick. Plus, by all reports, it might be a better engine.

I say fund it just because Lockheed doesn’t want it funded. Betting that they are wrong on how much something will cost and how much use it will be is almost always safe.

Drake1 May 27th, 2010 at 11:47 pm

It’s not the end of the world when we don’t get all the military hardware we want.

seesthrubs May 27th, 2010 at 8:06 pm

I cant help but see the irony as I open this story to read it I am met with an advert from P&W against the F136 using the audacious theme that it represents waste. Its almost unbelievable.

Given the incompetence in decision making thus far, like Symbolical said, if the forces that be want the F136 dead then do the complete opposite and save it.

If a programs worth doing, its worth doing right. On a single engine aircraft it needs the extra insurance.

Drake1 May 28th, 2010 at 12:51 am

The White House:

“If the final bill presented to the President includes funding or a legislative direction to continue an extra engine program, the President’s senior advisors would recommend a veto.

If the final bill presented to the President contains provisions that would seriously disrupt the F-35 program, the President’s senior advisers would recommend a veto.”

I think it’s over.

Formula May 28th, 2010 at 12:12 pm

The president has several Senior Advisors. I’m sure there are many who want it funded, but the press is reluctant to share this side of the story. Remember, the F136 is only 8/100’s of 1% of the total defense budget. Mr Obama is a smart man and I’m sure by now he has the real facts concerning what the F136 brings to the table. Besides, MR Obama can use the projected 20B dollars in savings to start reducing the 3T dollar deficit; this will not happen overnight and the savings the F136 will bring to the White House can surely be used for this purpose. Its a win win for competition, the Defense Department and the American Tax Payer.

Troy.C May 31st, 2010 at 3:58 pm

Enough is enough. Your Enron/Tyco way of life is over. The former Confederate of States have been economically, financially, politically oppressed, abused and neglected by the combination of Federal Government, Wall Street Banksters and Big Domestic/Foreign Corporate Gangsters for centuries. Take a look at what we got from the criminally developed nation: Home foreclosures, failed banks, long unemployment lines, debts, state deficits, high taxes, man– made disasters.…Our wealth has been robbed to buy these useless expensive toys and we cannot take it anymore. We want our freedom back. Down with casino,crony capitalistic criminalism.

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