Panel rejects Pentagon’s request for base closings

[DonViejo]

Source: AP


BY RICHARD LARDNER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Another round of military base closings is going nowhere in Congress.

The Obama administration wants another round. But the House Armed Services readiness subcommittee passed a bill Thursday to block any base closings in the U.S.

Republican Robert Wittman of Virginia is the subcommittee chairman. He says there’s too much uncertainty about the appropriate size of the armed forces to justify any closings. Wittman also says the initial cost is too high in a time of fiscal austerity.

The Pentagon budget for next year seeks $2.4 billion over five years to cover the upfront expense. Military leaders say it will generate long-term savings as facilities no longer needed are closed. Wittman says it’s premature to spend money on a problem that may not exist.

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Read more: http://www.salon.com/2013/05/23/panel_rejects_pentagons_request_for_base_closings/

[The Magistrate]

1. This One Calls For Brick, Sir: Apply to Forehead, Repeat As Needed....

[byeya]

2. As CIC, 0bama could transfer the functions, equipment and personnel from any base to any

other base and effectively close down the bases the Pentagon says are draining resources.

[24601]

6. Not exactly - for example, for DoD to transfer assets to the National Capitol Region (NCR- Wash DC

area), congressional approval is needed for anything costing over $500,000. Don't know what other limits exist in law, but I wouldn't presume congress hasn't put other restrictions into effect as well under their appropriations and regulate the military Article I authorities.

[Posteritatis]

13. That's incredibly expensive and Congress still controls the purse strings. (nt)

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Can anybody name one thing the House has actually done to reduce the

deficit/debt? Or for that matter, can anybody name one thing the House has actually done to help out Americans?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. Yes.

They excluded congress' members from any investment oversight from the SEC. It guarantees that they will profit from it.

Hey, it's only 535 people, but it is a start!

[Lurks Often]

4. Congress never wants bases closed

Bases = jobs and no virtually no one Congress is going to vote for something that could cost jobs in their state or district.

[xtraxritical]

7. Oink...

[RC]

5. They need to concentrate on military bases in any and all other countries first.

Then work on the ones here that support them, oh, you know, like the drones?

[DallasNE]

8. Which Military Base Is In Wittman's District?

The military no longer wants these bases. This only reports on costs associated with closing these bases without also listing the 10 year cost reductions from closing these bases. One would guess that there are net saving from closing these bases over the next 10 years, freeing up money to be spent in areas of actual need.

[Blue_Tires]

9. bases, plural...

"...The district ranges as far north from the Peninsula as rural Fauquier County, outside Washington, D.C., but the bulk of the population lives between the Potomac and James Rivers. Most of the major Hampton Roads military installations are in surrounding congressional districts, but the 1st remains steeped in military culture, and the Department of Defense and NASA continue to be significant employers. Historic Yorktown is adjacent to a Naval Weapons Station on the banks of the York River. To the north, in Caroline County, Fort A.P. Hill serves as a training site for active and reserve-component units. Not far from there is the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, located on the Potomac River, originally established as the Navy’s main proving ground for large-caliber guns...."

But Wittman's sentiment would be the same if he were a Dem...Large-scale military transfers or base closures are always fought tooth and nail by Virginia congresscritters, regardless of party...

[DallasNE]

10. Being From Virginia, I Should Have Known Multiple Bases

And I know there is a long history of both parties objecting to military requests to close bases, meaning it is about the pork rather than actual defense. In fact, my point was the disingenuous framing for the reason to keep bases open rather than any partisan claim.

[Hulk]

11. Want to guess what (red) states the majority of military basis are in?

Most that come to my mind are in places like Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, Washington, the Carolinas, etc.
This is their "food stamps" for being good little administration and congressional backers. Such a stinking joke. If the military sees no need for them...CLOSE THEM!

[Hulk]

12. I'm not say all....just saying. Do the math.

I realize nearly ALL states have some military installations. California has a lot as well, and is far from a "red-state". Just do the damned math.

[happyslug]

15. I remember New York Senator Monihan getting the 10th division to Ft Drum NY in the 1980s

And it is still there.

Ft Drum NY:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Drum

10th Mountain Division:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._10th_Mountain_Division#Cold_War

I just wanted to point out both parties fight to keep these bases open.

[Hulk]

16. No argument that many states, red and blue have bases....but,

Many of the red states seem to be extremely dependent on the military bases for their economy. Again, I'll mention Texas, Lousiana, Georgia, Virginia, the Carolinas. Yes, there certainly are blue states with bases. The point is not "they are ALL red states"; the point is many of the red states are extremely dependent on the US military for their economy. Can you imagine Texas WITHOUT military bases? Just saying.