Lawmakers who back Joint Strike Fighter get more cash from contractors, report finds

Companies involved in the Joint Strike Fighter program contributed almost double to lawmakers in the recently-formed Joint Strike Fighter Caucus as they did to other members so far this election cycle, according to a joint report from the Project on Government Oversight and the Center for Responsive Politics. The analysis found that individuals working for the four top contractors -- Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems and Pratt & Whitney -- focused their contributions on House members in the JSF Caucus, which was formed last month by Reps. Kay Granger (R-Texas) and Norm Dicks (D-Wash.). The report also notes that JSF Caucus members' states "receive a disproportionate share of JSF dollars and, in turn, jobs for their constituents." The JSF program is meant to develop and test next-generation strike aircraft, but critics have grown frustrated with the program's delays and rising costs and want to divert funding away from it.