WASHINGTON — Connecticut lawmakers on Thursday helped pass a stopgap spending bill that would prevent a government shutdown – and ease the way for the confirmation of retired Gen. James N. Mattis as the next secretary of defense – but there’s trouble in the Senate.
Pratt & Whitney
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Defense hawks hope Trump keeps vow to boost military spending
WASHINGTON — The House has approved a $619 billion defense bill and the Senate is expected to follow this week, but there’s a push to add F-35s, Black Hawk helicopters and other military hardware to the Pentagon’s shopping list early next year, right after President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.
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Air Force still doesn’t know what caused F-35 fire
WASHINGTON — The Air Force’s is continuing to investigate the cause of September’s fire in the rear area of an F-35 on a training mission in Idaho. It hasn’t ruled out problems with the jet fighter’s Pratt & Whitney engine.
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Blumenthal: Lame duck need not be lame
WASHINGTON — Congress returns to work this week for a lame-duck session aimed at trying to set aside partisan differences long enough to keep the government from closing. Connecticut’s two Democratic senators also hope some of the state’s priorities will survive in the next six weeks.
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Pentagon-Lockheed fight over F-35 price doesn’t extend to Pratt
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin differed this week over the price of the a ninth batch of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, but Pratt & Whitney, which makes the engines for those planes, has successfully negotiated contracts for that lot and the next.
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Larson makes big push for more F-35 fighter jets
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. John Larson is spearheading a push to substantially boost defense budget spending on additional F-35 fighter jets, but success is not assured.
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Clinton out-raises Trump in CT defense-industry campaign cash
WASHINGTON — Following a national trend, Connecticut’s defense workers and their bosses overwhelmingly gave to the campaign of Hillary Clinton while slighting that of Donald Trump. According to a Connecticut Mirror analysis, as of the end of August, the Clinton campaign raised more than $56,000 from individuals who work for the state’s defense industry, while the Trump campaign raised only $3,094.
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Air Force investigation of F-35 fire includes engine
WASHINGTON – The Air Force is investigating a fire that grounded an F-35 during a training mission in Idaho and hasn’t ruled out problems with a Pratt & Whitney-made engine like one that grounded the entire fleet two years ago.
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Blumenthal, Murphy split over boost in defense spending
WASHINGTON — Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy split this week on whether to boost military spending by $18 billion – allowing the Pentagon to increase its purchase of Connecticut-made weaponry – without raising the amount of money spent on domestic programs as well.
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Senate defense bill holds the line on F-35s, Black Hawks
WASHINGTON — A Senate defense panel has been far less generous to Connecticut defense programs than it’s counterpart in the House, which had boosted the number of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter planes and doubled the number of Black Hawk helicopters the Pentagon had asked for.
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Pentagon blames Pratt & Whitney suppliers for F-135 engine problems
WASHINGTON — The quality of the F-135 engine made by Pratt & Whitney – and the company’s supply chain – came under scrutiny Tuesday by a key Senate panel as part of a review of the status of the problem-plagued Joint Strike Fighter program.
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Air Force says Pratt & Whitney will build B-21 engine
WASHINGTON — Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford will build the engine for the Pentagon’s new super-secret, long-range bomber, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said on Monday.
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Obama budget would cut Black Hawks, F-35s, boost Pell grants, Head Start
WASHINGTON — President Obama’s 2017 proposed budget, released Tuesday, would sharply cut funding for Connecticut -made Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters and trim the number of F-35s the Pentagon would buy, while boosting spending on certain domestic priorities.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Federal budget bill good for CT defense, health insurance industries
WASHINGTON — The federal government’s proposed $1.1 trillion budget deal will please Connecticut health insurers, defense contractors and early childhood education advocates; but disappoint those seeking more federal heating aid and country-of-origin labeling on beef and pork.
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Federal researchers say Air Force may have to cut back on F-35s
Updated at 8:25 p.m.
WASHINGTON – Congressional researchers told the Air Force its ambitious modernization program will leave it strapped for money, and it may have to cut the number of F-35s it wants to buy.
