House & Senate Democrats vote against Obama on F-22

In spite of a possible presidential veto, lawmakers in the House and Senate continued pushing for additional F-22 Raptor fighter jets on Thursday.

The House approved its version of a bill to authorize defense spending for fiscal year 2010 that also included money for an alternative engine for the Air Force’s Joint Strike Fighter.

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved a defense bill that provides $1.75 billion to buy seven F-22s. It also approved funding for an alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter made by General Electric and Rolls-Royce.

The Obama administration threatened a veto over both issues Wednesday, and action in both chambers indicates lawmakers would face difficulty overriding the executive branch.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), the Raptor’s biggest champion, was jubilant.

“Our debate and vote took place with full awareness of the administration’s veto threat, and the result of the vote speaks for itself,” said Chambliss. - Politico