Based in Washington, Jen manages Aviation Week’s worldwide defense, space and security coverage.
Prior to taking on her current role, Jen was Aviation Week's Congressional Editor. Jen came to Aviation Week in March 2011 from Politico, where she covered the intersection of defense and politics. She also worked as a reporter and editor for Defense Daily, Inside the Army, The Other Paper and The Columbus Dispatch.
Jen received a Master’s degree in journalism as a Kiplinger Fellow at the Ohio State University. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in history and journalism from the University of Michigan.
Members of the House are trying to reinstate a rule to allow businesses to write off the cost of a major purchase – such as an aircraft – in the year the purchase is made rather than to spread the expense over many years. Bonus depreciation expired at the end of 2011, but a new bill, sponsored by Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), would extend the write off through 2012.
President Barack Obama may have reports due to Congress on the impact of a $1 trillion federal budget cut scheduled to take place at the beginning of 2013. That across-the-board reduction to the federal deficit is a penalty known as sequestration that Congress approved last year as a way to force lawmakers to address the toughest issues in deficit reduction. But so far, lawmakers have not reached a deal.
Leaders of the congressional defense committees can agree on this much regarding the threat of steep budget cuts looming next year: it’s time to reach for a deal. Last August, Congress passed a law calling for $1.2 trillion in federal deficit reduction. In the absence of an agreement on how to reduce the deficit, the law institutes a $1.2 trillion across-the-board federal budget cut in January 2013.
