What Does Jean Schmidt Have in Common With Ted Kennedy?

They both want a useless engine that that the military doesn't.

CBS (SeeBS) News reports:

The supersonic F-35 Lightning II is the military's next-generation strike fighter. It flies so fast that the speed is classified.

Pratt & Whitney has the government contract to make the jet's high-performance engine. But your tax dollars are also paying for GE to develop a spare engine — and it has cost you $1.6 billion so far.

The idea is that if GE and Pratt & Whitney compete, they'll build better engines that cost less and end up saving money. But here's where it really gets interesting: The military doesn't want the alternate engine. The Air Force and two independent panels have concluded it's "not necessary and not affordable" and that the supposed savings from competition "will never be achieved."

Now that we know what the story is all about, let's get to the heart of the matter, shall we?

So why did Sen. Ted Kennedy personally earmark $100 million tax dollars for the project this year alone? He wouldn't agree to an interview, but part of the answer has to do with where it could be built: at GE's Massachusetts plant in Kennedy's home state — where it would bring jobs.

Kennedy is not the only one who wants to spend your tax money on the project. So does Congresswoman Jean Schmidt.

"The military says we don't want it. It's not going to save money in the long run. Why should taxpayers fund it?," asks CBS News Capitol Hill correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.

"History shows competition works; it drives down price, spurs innovation, builds a better product and saves money in the long term," says Rep. Schmidt, R-Ohio.

It doesn't hurt that the competing engine could also bring jobs to the GE plant in Schmidt's home state of Ohio.

So long as it brings jobs back to Ohio, it's okay that we're spending $100 million on an engine that nobody wants... Is that really the position of the Congresswoman from Ohio? Look, I get that the economy here in Ohio isn't so hot. We've got a 6.1% unemployment rate here in the Buckeye State, but let's not pretend for a moment that we need this pork project for the sake of the military. Let's stop with the charade that this is somehow good business practice for a nation at war.

If someone from Jean's staff or GE wants to comment, I'll publish an update. Email me at wmdtvmatt - at - yahoo - dot - com