UPDATE 2-US CEOs urge passage of fiscal 2011 Pentagon budget

[unhappycamper]

UPDATE 2-US CEOs urge passage of fiscal 2011 Pentagon budget
Mon Feb 7, 2011 4:55pm EST
By Andrea Shalal-Esa

WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The chief executives of 14 U.S. defense companies urged Congress on Monday to pass a defense spending bill for fiscal 2011 instead of extending the current stopgap measure that keeps funding at 2010 levels.

The failure of Lawmakers to pass a defense appropriations bill for fiscal 2011, which began on Oct. 1, could have serious consequences, the CEOs of Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), Boeing Co's (BA.N) defense business and a dozen other companies said in a letter to congressional leaders.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned last week that Congress was causing a "crisis on my doorstep" by failing to approve Pentagon spending, inaction that could lead to a funding shortfall and hurt the military.

"Failure to address funding decisions for individual national security programs on a full-year basis will lead to program dislocations, funding interruptions, and adverse consequences on U.S. employment not only in the current fiscal year, but for many years to come," the industry executives said in their joint letter, noting the current continuing resolution limited production rates and banned new program starts.

Robert Stevens, chief executive of the largest U.S. defense contractor Lockheed, said the defense industry faced schedule delays, higher costs and other unnecessary risks unless lawmakers pass a fiscal 2011 defense appropriations bill.

[ReverendDeuce]

1. I've said it before and I get unrec'd every time...

The war is institutionalized at this point. Stopping it would mean hundreds of thousands of jobs.

It's the only thing keeping the country afloat at this point.

[DrDan]

2. so the $1M per troop could not be diverted to other job-sources?

[ReverendDeuce]

3. You don't seriously think we'll get a WPA-style jobs program these days, do you?

It will never happen. Ever. Because it's "socialist"...

[DrDan]

5. doesn't have have to be a WPA jobs program - but surely bringing home

at a savings of $1M could see a diversion of the money elsewhere - don't you think?

[liberal N proud]

4. Milking the cow

http://cashcowpopnpumps.com/mediac/450_0/media/Cash$20Cow$20001.jpg

[Blue_Tires]

6. yet, no one ever dares call these 'entitlements' or 'handouts'

and the whole "You're-putting-the-nation-at-risk-by-not-giving-us-a-black-check!" scare tactic is SO cliche...