Senate Grounds F-22 Money

By the Associated Press

Posted Jul 21, 2009 12:06 PM CDT

(AP) – The Senate has sided with the Obama administration in agreeing to cut off new spending for the F-22 jet fighter program. The 58-40 vote today removes $1.75 billion set aside in a defense policy bill to build seven more F-22 Raptors, adding to the 187 stealth fighters already in the pipeline.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that the Pentagon has enough of the $140 million jets to meet operational needs and President Obama threatened to veto the defense bill if Congress ignores the request that the program be terminated. But for many lawmakers, the F-22 means thousands of jobs for their state or district, and resistance to ending the program had been fierce.

An F-22 Raptor in flight. (AP Photo)

A group of Air Force F-22 Raptors. (AP Photo)

President Barack Obama. (AP Photo)

F-22 fighters. (AP Photo)

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

SBS

Jul 22, 2009 2:06 AM CDT

B.O.B. Agreed. I realize that many skilled workers will be affected by this decision. The reality of the world today is that the type of warfare we will be engaged in the future will not require these types of weapons platforms. Money will be better spent on A-10's, Apaches and IED resistant vehicles. These same skilled workers will be needed to build these platforms.,

The_Pinkston

Jul 21, 2009 10:10 AM CDT

Closest plane to the Raptor is the Typhoon....doesn't even come close.

The_Pinkston

Jul 21, 2009 10:08 AM CDT

The F-22 is lights out! ...but very very expensive. I don't think we need more than 187 at the present moment. With the savings we can purchase the new Lockheed F-35 Lightning that is coming out in 2013. F-22 designed for air superiority. Intercept, air-to-air, stealth FIGHTER. F-35 multi-role fighter-bomber for close ground support, air-to-surface target destruction.

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Proponents hope measure will create 250K jobs

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If there is one, which we hope there isn't. Good idea, say Dems.

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Eye constituents' votes in 2008, not polls on health care

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Grassley says death panel language gone from Senate bill

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