Lockheed backers set for fight:Ft Worth role in planes' production thre

Lockheed backers set for fight
Fort Worth role in planes' production threatened in cut plan


11:31 PM CST on Wednesday, January 12, 2005
By KATIE FAIRBANK / The Dallas Morning News



The budget cycle has barely begun, but opponents are already massing to fight substantial cuts to two military aircraft produced by Fort Worth-based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.

Congress and the Air Force began their campaigns this week to soften the blows to favored programs including the F/A-22 Raptor fighter jet and the C-130J Hercules transport plane. Parts of the two jets are built in Fort Worth, and final assembly is done in Marietta, Ga.
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Several Lockheed Martin plants could close, including the Marietta facility, sources familiar with the plans said Wednesday. About 12,000 people would lose their jobs, including 3,000 in Fort Worth. Lockheed Martin employs 15,550 people in Fort Worth.
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On Tuesday, almost a quarter of the U.S. Senate signed a letter asking President Bush to spare the C-130, which is scheduled for termination next year. The letter argues that shutting down the transport plane's production line doesn't make financial sense because it would cost more than $800 million in termination and support costs.

Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas was one of the senators asking the President to reconsider the move.
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... corporate defense once again uses job loss to influence the money they receive from the government trough. Nowhere in this is there any suggestion of Lockheed-Martin, that defense behemoth, preserving jobs by using its immense production and engineering facilities to produce commercial goods as an alternative to sucking at the government teat....

No surprise.

Why is the U.S. making a continued effort to remove military hardware from our arsenal? Why are we reducing our military in a time of war? Is this catching anybody's attention?

Bush knows they will not be cut but it is that Congress that does it.

We know that several defense contractors are getting limited orders or are being cut back. At the same time, programs like the new spy sattellite initiative and the missile defense program are being funded more than ever. I think something is afoot.

He loves Star Wars. And it shows.

Asside from the fact we actually spend too damn much on the wrong damn weapons, I think it's shakedown time in Washington. Lots of contributions and there won't be any cutbacks.