Senate rejects cut for cargo planes

WASHINGTON -- The Senate last week declined to cut spending for new C-17 military cargo planes, additional aircraft that President Barack Obama says the United States does not need.

Senators voted 34-64 to kill an amendment by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who shared Obama's view. It would have taken $2.5 billion for 10 additional C-17s out of a 2010 defense spending bill and redirected it to military readiness accounts.

The Air Force has 213 of the giant cargo jets in its fleet. Defense Secretary William Gates said in a letter that no more are needed, and that money for new aircraft would come at the expense of other programs.

"So why are we buying C-17s we don't need and can't afford ...?" McCain asked.

The C-17 is manufactured by The Boeing Co. and has enjoyed broad support in Congress as parts for the aircraft are made by suppliers in 44 states. C-17 defenders said the aircraft was versatile and reliable and that it is replacing an aging fleet of C-5 cargo planes.

Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said McCain's amendment would "wipe out a highly skilled American workforce and irreparably damage our country's military readiness."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., voted to retain the C-17 funding. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., voted to cut the funding.

AFGHANISTAN TESTIMONY SOUGHT

The Senate defeated an amendment by McCain that sought to force the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to testify before Congress by Nov. 15. McCain said he wanted the Senate to hear from Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. and NATO troop commander in Afghanistan, and three others including Gen. David Petraeus, who is McChrystal's boss as commander of U.S. Central Command.

McCain said it is common knowledge that McChrystal is recommending that Obama approve sending up to 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan as part of a beefed-up strategy.

"I have never seen a requirement that we can't call witnesses and won't call witnesses on an issue about sending young Americans into harm's way," he said.

But Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Obama needs time to reassess strategy in Afghanistan, and that it can be explained to Congress at that point.

McCain's amendment was defeated 40-59. Ensign voted for it while Reid voted against it.

Earlier, senators had approved a Levin amendment that would require military and political officials to testify after Obama has decided on a strategy for the war region, but did not set a date.

Levin said it was possible hearings could take place before Nov. 15 as Obama might be close to making decisions.

The vote on the Levin amendment was 60-39. Reid voted for it while Ensign voted against it.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault @stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.