Obama threatens veto of defense bill over fighter jet add-on

The Obama administration Wednesday threatened to veto the House fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill if it includes any funding for more F-22 Raptor fighter jets or continues a second engine program for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

In its Statement of Administration Policy sent to Capitol Hill this afternoon, the White House "strongly objects" to a $369 million downpayment authorized in the bill for 12 F-22s in fiscal 2011.

The funding, narrowly approved by the House Armed Services Committee during its markup of the bill last week, essentially would reverse the Pentagon's decision to end production of the stealthy fighters with the four in the fiscal 2009 supplemental spending bill awaiting the president's signature.

"The collective judgment of the service chiefs and secretaries of the military departments suggests that a final program of record of 187 F-22s is sufficient to meet operational requirements," the SAP said.

The White House similarly objected to $603 million authorized in the bill for an alternate engine for the F-35 program, arguing it is unnecessary and would delay fielding of the aircraft.

President George W. Bush made similar arguments in repeated attempts to terminate development of an alternate engine, only to be rebuffed by Congress.

In its statement, the White House also took issue with language in the bill that would allow the Defense Department to use only 75 percent of the fiscal 2010 funds for the F-35 until it has obligated all funds for the alternate engine.

"If the final bill presented to the president would seriously disrupt the F-35 program, the president's senior advisors would recommend a veto," according to the statement.

The House is expected to begin consideration of the authorization bill Wednesday, with proposals on missile defense funding and Afghanistan among the 69 amendments cleared for floor debate.

Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., will push for language that requires Defense Secretary Robert Gates to submit to Congress by the end of the year a report detailing an exit strategy from Afghanistan.

The amendment, identical to a stand-alone bill that has attracted 91 co-sponsors since it was introduced in May, will pit members of the House Progressive Caucus against more conservative Democrats who would prefer to give the White House time to execute its Afghanistan strategy before determining a withdrawal strategy.

The bill's floor managers, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo., and ranking member Howard (Buck) McKeon, R-Calif., are expected to mount strong opposition to the amendment, a House aide said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, House Republicans will push to add $1.2 billion to the $9.3 billion for missile defense programs authorized in the bill - bringing the funding on par with fiscal 2009 spending levels in a bid to save several programs on the chopping block.

During its markup of the bill last week, the House Armed Services Committee defeated the same amendment, largely along party lines.

The amendment will likely be met with the same opposition on the floor from Democrats, who have argued that the budget request invests in proven technologies -- including boosting Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense and Theater High Altitude Area Defense by a total of $900 million.

The House Rules Committee did not clear other divisive amendments for floor debate, including language sponsored by Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, that would have banned the release of detainee abuse photos.