Midair fueling tanker funded with a string

A House appropriations panel fully funded the U.S. Air Force's midair refueling tanker with the proviso that the Pentagon analyze its impact on U.S. jobs.

In approving the 2009 defense spending bill that includes the $893 million appropriation Wednesday, members of the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee directed the Pentagon to analyze job-creation estimates from Northrop and Boeing as part of its decision, The Hill reported

The Defense Department has never considered such an impact before and the Air Force didn't take it into consideration when it first awarded the contract to Northrop Grumman instead of Boeing at the end of February.

Congressional members complained the decision could result in a loss of U.S. jobs because of Northrop's partnership with the European firm EADS, parent company of Airbus, Boeing's rival. Boeing also protested the decision.

The panel also directed the Defense Department to comply with the subsequent Government Accountability Office's report that recommended bidding be reopened after reviewing the contract process.

Among other provisions, the panel recommended funding cuts in the Army's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter made by Bell Textron, and the presidential helicopter under contract with Lockheed Martin and Agusta Westland.