Will President Obama Veto The Defense Budgey During A Time Of War? United States Air Force: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (top) and the F-22 Raptor United States Air Force. Image from Popsci.com

White House Says It Would Veto More F-22 Raptor Jet Fundings -- Politico

The Obama administration made it clear Wednesday it will veto any defense authorization bill that includes money for additional F-22 Raptor fighter jets or that cuts money for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet program.

The House Armed Services Committee has approved a bill that includes more than $300 million as a down payment to buy 12 F-22s in 2010.

"If the final bill presented to the president contains this provision, the president's senior advisers would recommend a veto," the Office of Management and Budget wrote in a statement of administration policy. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has proposed killing the F-22 program after this year.

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More News On This Budget Battle

Senators add $1.75B to DOD budget for F-22's -- AP
Senate Panel Votes for More Stealth Jets, Defying Gates -- The Danger Room
Senate panel adds seven F-22s to fiscal 2010 bill -- Government Executive
US Senate bill has funding for F-22s, alternate F-35 engine -- Forbes
US Senate bill seeks study on export F-22 version -- Reuters
FACTBOX-Key elements of the Senate 2010 defense bill -- Reuters

Too bad Obama's staff guidance in Health Care and Education isn't as strong as in Defense...