U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie is pushing House members to approve funding for an alternative engine for a new jet fighter dubbed the Joint Strike Fighter, or F-35.

Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, contends in a Sept. 14 letter that the alternative engine, made by General Electric and Rolls Royce, will create competition with primary engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.
Abercrombie’s view contrasts with that of President Barack Obama, who has cited the alternative engine as an example of wasteful spending.
An Abercrombie spokesman said the congressman believes Obama has been given “bad information” by military advisers.
Abercrombie’s letter followed a Sept. 11 mishap during the testing of the newest version of Pratt & Whitney’s engine.