SOUTHLAND ASSEMBLY MEMBERS TEAM ON TAX CREDIT PROPOSAL.Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer PALMDALE - A High Desert Republican is joining with a South Bay Democrat to push state tax breaks they hope will bring jobs to California in two aerospace programs. Assemblywoman Sharon Runner Sharon Runner (born May 17 1954, Los Angeles) is a Californian politician. She has been a member of the California State Assembly since 2002. Runner, a Republican from Antelope Valley represents the 36th district. , R-Lancaster, and Assemblyman Ted Lieu Ted Lieu has been a California State Assemblyman since September of 2005 when he was elected to the seat following the death of incumbent Mike Gordon. He is a member of the Democratic Party , D-Torrance, want to extend tax credits for the joint strike fighter program The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) became synonymous with the later F-35 Lightning II, however until 2001 the term was applied to the competition between the Boeing X-32 and Lockheed Martin X-35. and to offer the same benefits to the winner of the contract to build NASA's next manned spacecraft This is a list of manned spacecraft (including space stations) sorted by manufacturer/operator and series in chronological order. Operational spacecraft China National Space Administration
``Hopefully it'll bring in more jobs to the region,'' Lieu said. ``It's important to note these tax credits don't go into effect unless jobs are created.'' Assembly Bill 2033 will extend tax credits for the F-35 joint strike fighter program for five years. The tax credits for employee wages and equipment purchases is due to expire Dec. 1. Runner said at her suggestion Lieu agreed to amend the bill to include work on NASA's crew exploration vehicle
The Crew Exploration Vehicle (or CEV) was the conceptual component of the Vision for Space Exploration that later became known as the Orion spacecraft. , the proposed replacement for the space shuttle space shuttle, reusable U.S. space vehicle. Developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), it consists of a winged orbiter, two solid-rocket boosters, and an external tank. . NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. is expected to award a contract later this year to either Lockheed Martin For the former company, see . Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a leading multinational aerospace manufacturer and advanced technology company formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. or a Northrop Grumman-Boeing team. ``It's another tool to help us so we don't lose manufacturing jobs to other places,'' Runner said. The F-35 joint strike fighter is being assembled by Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas, 18th-largest city in the United States[1], and voted one of "America’s Most Livable Communities. . However, there is substantial subcontractor work on the program in California, including the assembly of the center fuselage section by Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, an effort that employs several hundred people. Lockheed Martin's Palmdale plant also builds parts for the jets. The tax credit is for 10 percent of an employee's wages and 10 percent for equipment purchased directly for the program. The tax credits were originally negotiated as part of the 1998 state budget by then-Assemblyman and current state Sen. George Runner. Lieu said that because of delays in the program, California companies have not been able to enjoy the full benefits of the tax credits. Extending them will allow the credits to provide the benefits they were intended to provide. In terms of the crew exploration vehicle program, California is facing stiff competition from Florida, which is putting together an incentive package valued at $45.5 million for the winning contractor team. The Lockheed Martin team has already announced it will assemble the spacecraft in Florida if it wins the contract. The Northrop Grumman-led team will not disclose its assembly site, saying the information is sensitive while the competition is going on. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have production facilities at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale. Northrop Grumman's partner, Boeing, also has operations at Plant 42. The California Space Authority The California Space Authority (CSA) is a nonprofit corporation representing the commercial, civil, and national defense/homeland security interests of California's diverse space enterprise community in four domains: Industry, Government, Academia, and Workforce. , which is coordinating the state's efforts to attract CEV CEV Crew Exploration Vehicle (NASA) CEV Contemporary English Version (Bible) CEV Confédération Européenne de Volleyball CEV Confederation Européenne de Volleyball work, is in talks with both teams. The substance of those talks are not being discussed publicly at this time because of the competition, but there is still room for optimism, authority officials said. The Crew Exploration Vehicle will transport up to six crew members to and from the International Space Station and up to four astronauts for moon missions. NASA wants the CEV to begin its flights as close as possible to the planned 2010 retirement date of the space shuttle fleet. Proposals by the two teams are due by March 20. NASA will select one contractor team sometime this year to develop the spacecraft. NASA estimates it will cost $104 billion to return astronauts to the moon by 2018. The Apollo program spent the equivalent of $165 billion in today's dollars from 1961 to the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. Jim Skeen, (661) 267-5743 james.skeen(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) The first F-35 joint strike fighter moves out of the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth, Texas, on Feb. 19. Two California Assembly members have joined in an effort to extend tax credits for the program and for the eventual winner of a pending NASA contract. Lockheed Martin |
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