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Vicky Hartzler (r), as a member-elect of the House, in November 2010:

…Last week I had a great day meeting with the commanders at Whiteman Air Force Base, learning more about their missions, hearing their concerns and ideas, and touring the Base.  It was an honor to meet these dedicated public servants who have given their lives and talents to keeping us free.  I was thrilled to get to sit in the cockpit of the Apache Helicopter, an A-10 Thunderbolt, and the B-2 Stealth Bomber.  We have such a national security treasure here in Missouri’s 4th and I look forward to working with them to protect and defend our country…

This past week:

The House Armed Services Committee filed H.R. 4310 with the Rules Committee on Thursday May 10, 2012. H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, was filed as ordered and reported by HASC on Wednesday, May 09, 2012….

Representative Robert Andrews (D-New Jersey) offered Amendment 128:

AMENDMENT TO H.R. 4310

OFFERED BY MR. ANDREWS OF NEW JERSEY

In section 4201 of division D, relating to Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, increase the amount for B-2 EHF Extremely high Frequency Radio (PE 0101127F) by $71,000,000.

In section 4201 of division D, relating to Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, reduce the amount for Ballistic Missile Defense Midcourse Defense Segment (PE 0603882C) by $71,000,000.

X

The amendment failed 26-35:

Aye:

Owens, Larsen, Langevin, Smith, Reyes, Sanchez, Cooper, McIntyre, Brady, Andrews, Mrs. Davis, Heinrich, Bordallo, Courtney, Loebsack, Tsongas, Pingree, Ryan, Critz, Garamendi, Ruppersberger, Johnson, Sutton, Hanabusa, Hochul, Speier

Nay:

Hunter, LoBiondo, McKeon, Bartlett, Thornberry, Wittman, Turner, Akin, Forbes, Miller, Wilson, Lamborn, Kline, Mr. Rogers, Franks, Shuster, Conaway, Kissell, Rooney, Coffman, Fleming, Young, Platts, Riggell, Gibson, Hartzler, Heck, Brooks, Schilling, Runyan, Scott, Griffin, Palazzo, West, Roby

[emphasis added]

That’s right, Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) voted against an appropriation for an operational system based in her district in favor of a pie in the sky boondoggle throwback to the Reagan era.

Big mistake. Big. Huge.

Who benefits?:

National Missile Defense Contractors

National Missile Defense Contractors in the United States have been actively involved in Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) since the 1980s. However, the project did not officially begin until 1998 “with a $1.6 billion dollar initial contract to Boeing.”

[….]

“Boeing as the prime-contractor is responsible for the development, test, and integration of all the GMD elements, including the Ground-based Interceptor, X-Band Radar Prototype, Fire Control & Communications systems, Upgraded Early Warning Radars and interfaces to the Defense Support Program. Major team members include Raytheon Company (kill vehicle, radars); Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (BMC2); Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (booster vehicles); Orbital Sciences Corporation (booster vehicles); Bechtel (facilities design and construction); and Teledyne Brown Engineering (Integrated Systems Testing Capabilities and technical services).”

[….]

[emphasis added]

This is interesting:

VICKY HARTZLER FOR CONGRESS

LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION EMPLOYEES’ POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 03/02/2011 1000.00 12970061909

LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION EMPLOYEES’ POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 06/16/2011 1000.00 12970067685

LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION EMPLOYEES’ POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 09/28/2011 1000.00 12970069164

LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION EMPLOYEES’ POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 03/21/2012 1500.00 12951370056

RAYTHEON COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTTEE 02/17/2012 1500.00 12970751869

THE BOEING COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 03/11/2011 1000.00 11930808651

THE BOEING COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 03/11/2011 5000.00 11930808651

THE BOEING COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 06/24/2011 1000.00 11931820144

Quite interesting.