Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) Wants Answers About The A-10 Program

A Republican senator from New Hampshire is has placed a "hold" on President Obama's nominee for Secretary of the Air Force over the fate of the A-10, which is reportedly on the budget chopping block.

Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) (pictured) is the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services readiness subcommittee. Liz Johnson, a spokeswoman for Senator Ayotte said in a statement Thursday that "Sen. Ayotte's central concern is that our troops, including New Hampshire servicemen and women serving in harm's way, have the close air support they need to safely accomplish their missions. The A-10 airframe is credited with saving 60 American lives this summer in Afghanistan."

The Associated Press reports that Ayotte's husband Joe Daley flew combat missions in Iraq in an A-10.

During a confirmation hearing, Ayotte asked Air Force Secretary nominee Deborah Lee James about the A-10. James said that no decision about any particular program has been made, and that the Air Force is keeping all of its options open.

Ayotte said through her spokeswoman that she would not lift the hold on the nomination until she received "substantive" answers about the A-10. She submitted 32 follow-up questions to the Air Force after the hearing.

FMI: www.ayotte.senate.gov, www.af.mil