Ohio leaders rally for GE jet engine project

CINCINNATI (AP) — Ohio's Democratic governor and U.S. House members from both parties joined a rally today at GE Aviation to support a jet fighter engine project.

The General Electric Co. unit based in Evendale just north of Cincinnati wants to continue work with Rolls-Royce on the multibillion-dollar effort to develop an alternate engine for the Joint Strike Fighter program.

GE Aviation says some 1,200 jobs in the Cincinnati area and 2,500 jobs overall nationally are tied to the F136 engine project.

Obama administration and Pentagon officials have said the project isn't necessary, however.

"The Joint Strike Fighter will modernize our fleet and serve this nation for decades," Gov. Ted Strickland said. "And competition is the force that will drive down the cost for developing the primary engine over time."

Strickland said maintaining the program will save taxpayers more than $20 billion over the life of the project and improve the readiness of U.S. armed forces.