One Congressman Says Vote May Not Come Until December

A New York Congressman says the vote on the Appropriations Conference Bill could be delayed into December, in part over funding for the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey

Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) says the House version of the Defense Appropriations Bill contains $485.2 million to make the first five VH-71's operational, but the Senate version does not. Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) said earlier this month that he would not push for inclusion of the funds in the conference report in a effort to not "embarrass the President" who is opposed to the funding. Murtha chairs the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.

Hinchey, who represents the district that is home to the Lockheed Martin facility in Owego, where the VH-71 would be assembled, said Murtha may have been misquoted in the Capital newspaper "The Hill."  He told the Binghamton Press Connects that Murtha is "under pressure from a variety of places that are opposed to continuing the VH-71."

Rep. John Murtha

Hinchey believes that if the program was funded, it could mean 600 jobs would return to Owego which were cut when it looked like the VH-71 was dead. Murtha spokesman Matthew Mazonkey did not comment on the article in "The Hill," saying "The House position on the presidential helicopter program is clear. We believe that it is in the best interest of taxpayers to make operational the five aircraft that have already been built."

FMI: http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/sub_def.shtml