c-upi

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Two dozen senators have called
on President Bush to order the continued production of the C-130
military transport plane.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Thursday Sen.
Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., led the effort in drafting a letter sent to
Bush Wednesday calling for him to override a Pentagon proposal to
halt production on the plane in 2008. The plane is built at Lockheed
Martin's 7,800-employee Marietta plant.
Fifteen Republicans and nine Democrats from 14 states signed
the letter, which called the proposal "ill-advised and untimely."
"We urge you to reconsider these cuts that will negatively
affect the future readiness and capability of the United States Air


orders for the plane after three years as well as a reduction in
orders of the F/A-22 Raptor fighter jets, produced at the same
Georgia factory, to 180 planes as part of an effort to curtail
spending.