Why Everyone is Lobbying on the F-35 Fighter Jet

http://inthecapital.streetwise.co/2014/10/09/why-everyone-is-lobbying-on-the-f-35-fighter-jet/



Why Everyone is Lobbying on the F-35 Fighter Jet
Tess VandenDolder - Staff Writer, Politics
10/09/14 @4:59pm in Politics

In many ways the defense lobby is an elusive area of business on K Street. With little public interest and media coverage, it's easy to forget that the world of defense contracting is a billion dollar industry tied entirely to the way lawmakers choose to appropriate taxpayer funds. Currently lobbying on the Department of Defense's F-35 fighter jet program has taken a front row seat on K Street, with various actors pouring big bucks into keeping this expensive program afloat.

Back in 1994, the U.S. government embarked on the Joint Advanced Strike Technology program, to essentially develop a new, upgraded and uniform line of fighter jets for the military. Since then, the program has cost taxpayers nearly $400 billion, despite testing delays, software issues and a slew of other mechanical problems.

But that hasn't stopped the profitable defense lobby from pushing Congress to continue to bankroll the program. This past quarter at least 15 different companies and associations have filed lobbying disclosures for work conducted in relation to continuing funding for the F-35 fighter jet. Lockheed Martin has spearheaded these lobbying efforts, with 12 in-house lobbyists working on the issue as well paying over $7 million to keep 26 K Street firms on retainer for 2014.

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The power and money behind companies like Lockheed Martin has largely drowned out the voices in opposition to the program. The watchdog group Project On Government Oversight has been attempting to force Congress to hold a hearing about the astronomical costs of the program and the continuous delays, but it has been an uphill battle. “I’ve gone into congressional offices when Lockheed representatives are coming out, and vice versa,” Ethan Rosenkranz, a POGO national security policy analyst told POLITICO.