WASHINGTON  – The chairman of a powerful House subcommittee that funds the military says he’s hopeful that at least some of the $3.2 billion spent for a new fleet of presidential helicopters can be salvaged.

The military stopped production of the heavily over budget VH-71 helicopter program, estimated to now cost $13 billion, at the White House’s request. The military plans to restart the project.

Rep. John Murtha told defense writers Wednesday that he and other members are trying to convince the administration to utilize at least some of what’s already been spent. The Pennsylvania Democrat said he thinks the White House was responding to bad publicity about the project, but that it made a decision that doesn’t make sense financially