Delay of Game

A vote on Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) amendment to the fiscal year 2010 defense authorization bill that would remove funding for F-22A purchases has been delayed until tomorrow, at the earliest.

Senate Armed Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) had wanted the chamber to reach a verdict on the amendment by noon today; however, all votes have been suspended to accommodate those lawmakers attending the Major League Baseball All Star Game in St. Louis this evening.

McCain, the committee's ranking member, introduced the amendment during floor debate on the authorization bill yesterday. President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen sent letters to Levin and McCain urging them to remove the Raptor procurement money from the bill.

The House and Senate Armed Services committees have passed authorization bills including money to purchase more of the fifth-generation fighters; Obama has threatened to veto any defense spending bill that includes money for more F-22As. (And the president will be in St. Louis tonight, too, throwing out the game's first pitch.)

Levin said he is trying to schedule a vote on McCain's amendment tomorrow.