A Missourian who is one of the top minority members of the House Armed Services Committee says the Obama administration’s shortsightedness could hurt hundreds of Missourians.
Congressman Todd Akin of Town and Country represents a lot of people who make airplanes for Boeing…He says some defense budget issues are partisan in nature…and others are differences of opinion between the administration and Congress. The continuation of the F/A-18 production line in St. Louis is the latter…
The administration sees the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as the plane of the future. But Akin says the Super Hornet is the plane for today. He says the Navy is facing a growing shortage of aircraft and the Super Hornet is the only real fighter that flies from aircraft carriers.
Akin and other members of Missouri’s congressional delegation supporting the Super Hornets say the F-35 is behind schedule and over budget. He says the Armed Services Committee has had trouble getting straight answers from the Pentagon that justify the administration’s emphasis on the Joint Strike Fighter.
He says Congress needs to be able to analyze what the administration thinks defense needs are but the Defense Department is not providing the information.
toddak3] :29 mp3