Congressman Jim Talent has convinced a couple of congressional defense committees to spend money to build two prototype F-15 fighter jets, which he says will cost about half the normal amount. Talent thinks the military will be better off buying newer, cheaper, jets than maintaining its older F-15s. But the short-term value of the deal is questioned by Congressman Richard Gephardt, who notes the money for the F-15s comes out of the budget for the F-18s, also built in St. Louis. Gephardt calls the F-18 a top priority for Boeing and the navy.
