US House passes defence bill, kills F-22July 31st, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US House of Representatives passed a $636-billion defence bill Thursday after removing money to continue production of the F-22, meeting a key demand by President Barack Obama. The bill, for fiscal 2010 and including $128 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, passed by a 400-30 vote.
House kills funding for the over-budget F-22 fighter, but rejects efferts to cut other weaponsJuly 30th, 2009 House cuts F-22 funding, nixes other weapons cutsWASHINGTON — The Democratic-controlled House went along with Defense Secretary Robert Gates' plans to kill the over-budget F-22 fighter jet, but has rejected his efforts to cut off several other big ticket items. Despite objections and veto threats from the White House, a $636 billion Pentagon spending bill passed by a 400-30 vote Thursday contains money for a much-criticized new presidential helicopter fleet, cargo jets that Gates says aren't needed, and an alternative engine for the next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that the Pentagon says is a waste of money.
House rejects most Obama weapons cuts, retreats on F-22 fighterJuly 30th, 2009 House rejects most Obama weapons cutsWASHINGTON — The Democratic-controlled House went along with Defense Secretary Robert Gates' plans to kill the over-budget F-22 fighter jet, but has rejected his efforts to cut off several other big ticket items. Despite objections and veto threats from the White House, a $636 billion Pentagon spending bill passed by a 400-30 vote Thursday contains money for a much-criticized new presidential helicopter fleet, cargo jets that Gates says aren't needed, and an alternative engine for the next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that the Pentagon says is a waste of money.
Save for the F-22, Democratic House funds Pentagon programs slated for terminationJuly 30th, 2009 House funds Pentagon programs set for terminationPresident Barack Obama recommended killing several high profile Pentagon programs in his 2010 budget. Here's how he fared in a defense funding bill passed by the House on Thursday:
F-22 fighter jet — After receiving $2.9 billion this year, the F-22 fighter jet was slated for elimination by Obama.
White House issues veto threats as House fights loom on fighter jets, presidential helicoptersJuly 28th, 2009 White House issues veto threats; House fights loomWASHINGTON — The White House threatened Tuesday to veto a $636 billion spending bill for the Pentagon, citing funding for F-22 fighters and a much-criticized replacement presidential helicopter. President Barack Obama wants to terminate both programs.
Battle between White House and Congress over F-22s heads toward Senate voteJuly 21st, 2009 Senate heads toward vote on F-22s
WASHINGTON — The Senate debated Tuesday whether to spend $1.75 billion on seven additional F-22 jets, a decision that pits the possible loss of thousands of defense jobs against Obama administration assertions that the Pentagon has enough of the fighters and the program should be terminated. Lawmakers from states that would benefit from manufacturing the jets want the money pumped into the aerospace and defense industries.
Jet showdown: Pentagon chief says veto threat is real in squabble with Congress over fundingJuly 17th, 2009 Pentagon, Congress square off over money for jetsWASHINGTON — The Pentagon and Congress all but dared each other Thursday to a showdown over funding for fighter jets in a multimillion-dollar squabble that each side said they were fighting in the interests of U.S. security. The Democratic chairman of a key House Appropriations panel said he's confident that plans to add $369 million to the Pentagon's budget for a dozen more F-22 jets will survive a White House veto threat.
In stinging remarks, Pentagon chief says lawmakers are spending more on jets than necessaryJuly 17th, 2009 Gates scolds Congress over funding for fighter jetCHICAGO — Defense Secretary Robert Gates is jeering Congress for wanting to spend millions of dollars on more fighter jets than he says the U.S. actually needs.
Murtha says White House veto threat on F-22 fighter jet funding won't derail spending billJuly 16th, 2009 Dems at odds with White House on F-22 fundingWASHINGTON — Despite adding money for two programs that the White House has said will result in a veto of the defense spending bill, a key House Democrat said Thursday he's confident the legislation will avoid that fate. "We'll work it out," John Murtha, head of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, told reporters following a markup of the bill.
Key Senate vote postponed to eliminate $1.75 billion in funding for Lockheed F-22 fighter jetsJuly 15th, 2009 Levin says vote postponed on F-22 jet fundingWASHINGTON — A key Senate vote that would eliminate $1.75 billion added to the defense spending bill for more fighter jets from Lockheed Martin has been postponed again. Sen. Carl Levin on Wednesday withdrew the F-22 amendment so the Senate can first address a controversial hate crimes bill.
Democrats say they will work with White House to alter intelligence notification rulesJuly 9th, 2009 House Dems likely to alter intel billWASHINGTON — Stymied by a White House veto threat, House Democrats say they will work with the Obama administration to soften a legislative provision that would broaden access to secret intelligence briefings. Democrats on the intelligence committee say that an intelligence authorization bill containing the controversial provision would likely pass the House intact but would be adjusted in negotiations with the White House and the Senate.
White House threatens to veto bill expanding congressional notification of covert activitiesJuly 8th, 2009 White House threatens to veto intelligence billWASHINGTON — The White House is threatening to veto a bill that would require the president to dramatically increase the number of lawmakers who must be notified about covert CIA activities. The annual intelligence authorization bill the House will consider Thursday contains a provision that would require the president to inform more than 40 members of Congress — rather than eight members currently — about secret actions taken overseas to influence events in other countries.
White House threatens veto over proposed $369 million for more F-22 radar-evading jetsJune 24th, 2009 White House threatens veto over F-22 jet fightersWASHINGTON — Preparing for a possible showdown with Congress, the White House on Wednesday threatened to veto legislation authorizing a $680 billion military budget if it contains money for jet fighters the Pentagon doesn't want. In a statement, the White House Office of Management and Budget said the $369 million that a House committee added to the bill as a downpayment for 12 additional F-22 fighters runs counter to the "collective judgment" of the military's top leaders.
Obama administration objects to $369 million in legislation for more F-22 radar-evading jetsJune 24th, 2009 White House threatens defense spending bill vetoWASHINGTON — Preparing for a possible showdown with Congress, the White House has threatened to veto a $680 billion military spending bill if it contains money for jet fighters the Pentagon doesn't want. In a statement of administration policy, President Barack Obama's Office of Management and Budget said the $369 million a House committee added to the bill for 12 additional F-22 fighters runs counter to the "collective judgment" of the military's top leaders.
Auto suppliers want Congress, Obama to protect supply base amid summer factory shutdownsMay 9th, 2009 Auto suppliers urge lawmakers to protect baseWASHINGTON — Auto suppliers say the auto industry's supply base could be threatened by factory shutdowns by General Motors and Chrysler. In a letter to congressional offices on Friday, the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association said the supplier industry is in crisis and during the shutdowns many suppliers will have no choice but to permanently close their facilities this summer.