The U.S. Senate today voted to kill the F-22 Raptor fighter jet by a vote of 58-40.

Montana’s two U.S. Senators, both democrats, voted to keep funding the F-22.

The 40 Senators who voted for continued funding for the F-22 did so to protect jobs in their states and not so much for the national security. Of course, national security should always come first, but most of the time politics wins. The people who build the F-22s are voters and it’s hard for a member of the House or Senate to go back home and tell their constituents they voted to kill their jobs (that is if the member of congress wants to win reelection)

This vote was ironic in a number of ways. This congress has spent more money than ever and it is amazing that they wanted to kill a paltry $1.75 billion when they have been spending trillions. Also, it was interesting that Obama won this one in the senate.

Is it over for the F-22? Maybe. In Jack’s terms the F-22 is circling the drain, but there has to be a conference committee meeting to iron out the differences in the bill the House passed (with funding for the F-22) and the one the Senate passed (without the funding).

Let the lobbying begin! As soon as the conference members are selected, the phones, e-mails, and visits to their offices will begin. That’s politics. If I were dependent on the F-22 for my income, I’d be at the front of the line, but I would be using the national security angle first, and hope that was enough.