Levin says vote postponed on F-22 jet funding

WASHINGTON - Sen. Carl Levin says a key vote has been postponed to strike out $1.75 billion added to the defense spending bill for more fighter jets from Lockheed Martin in Marietta.

The Senate was expected to vote Wednesday on the amendment filed by Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sen. John McCain, the committee's top Republican, to cut extra money for seven more planes.

Levin says he will now withdraw the F-22 amendment temporarily so the Senate can first address a controversial hate crimes bill. That bill will be attached to the fiscal 2010 defense spending bill.

The Michigan Democrat says he doesn't understand why the F-22 vote needs to be delayed. He says the Senate will still need to resolve both issues.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/7/221814