Boeing C-17 poised to survive political turbulence

The Senate Appropriations Committee, in a separate action, provided no money for additional C-17s. But the plane’s supporters had cause to hope after the committee chairman’s response to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who pleaded for funding.

"The senator has good reason to be optimistic," said Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), suggesting money for the plane was likely to be forthcoming. "I have been and remain a strong supporter of the C-17 program, and I am committed to finding a responsible way to maintain the program."

The last major military aircraft produced in Southern California, once a center of the aerospace industry, the C-17 stands a good chance of surviving the budget ax because of a political constituency as strong as its engines.

The fight is seen as a key test of Obama’s budget-cutting efforts in the face of lawmakers looking out for their home-state interests.

"Once they get used to overriding the president, they’ll keep doing it," Loren Thompson, military policy analyst for the Lexington Institute, said of Congress.

The plane, in production since the early 1990s, has the backing of odd bedfellows, from liberal Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) to conservative Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.). A key reason: Its aircraft parts come from more than 650 suppliers in 43 states.

"Parochial interests rule," said Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who supports ending C-17 production.

The plane’s landing gear comes from Cleveland; its cockpit, nose and cargo ramp and door from St. Louis; engines from Connecticut; avionics from Binghamton, N.Y.; tail sections and engine coverings from Dallas; seats from Phoenix; and so on.

The plane provides more than 5,000 jobs in Long Beach and an additional 15,000 elsewhere in the state. Boeing, one of the largest private employers in Southern California with about 25,000 workers, has said that its C-17 plant next to Long Beach airport will shut down in early 2011 without more orders.

"Congress is mainly concerned about protecting jobs," Thompson said, then paused. "And votes."

C-17 supporters have been baffled by a sudden turnaround in Obama’s support for the aircraft. It was one of only two military programs that Obama had singled out on his website for more funding during the presidential campaign and even after taking office.

But his promise of "investing" in additional C-17s has since been taken off the White House website.

The plane is an important part of Boeing’s business, generating $8 billion a year in revenues. Boeing not only makes the planes, but also upgrades and maintains them. The Chicago company was the 12th-biggest spender on lobbying last year, spending $16.6 million, according to watchdog group Center for Responsive Politics.

Although parochial politics has been a driving force in funding the plane, its supporters say it also is important to national security.

"If it was not built in California, I’d still be in favor of it," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach).

The plane’s supporters have warned against "irreversibly" shutting down production before completion of a study on the Pentagon’s airlift needs.

Still, not all members of the California congressional delegation support continued funding for the plane.