Governor Take Guard Appeal to Rumsfeld

[Judi Lynn]

Aug 31, 5:02 PM EDT

Governor Take Guard Appeal to Rumsfeld

By ROBERT TANNER
AP National Writer

The nation's governors sought help Thursday from Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld in their ongoing fight against proposals in Congress to give President Bush more control - and governors less - over the National Guard during disasters.

A letter from the two chairpersons of the National Governors Association, along with the two governors who head the group's work on the Guard, asked Rumsfeld to join the unanimous opposition of governors to proposed changes spurred by the chaos and delays in sending help that followed Hurricane Katrina.

All 50 governors earlier this month signed a formal letter opposing a House provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that would let Bush federalize the Guard without governors' consent in the event of a "serious natural or manmade disaster, accident or catastrophe."

Adding to their worries, the NGA said, the Senate approved-version of the legislation would give Bush similar powers by redefining the Insurrection Act, a Civil War-era law that's rarely used.
(snip/...)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GOVERNORS_GUARD?SITE=NCBER&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[DeepModem Mom]

1. This is really important. I doubt Rummy will be of much help, however. nt

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Ooh ooh, ah ah.

[BadgerKid]

3. Choice quote

"Governors were particularly upset that the proposals in Congress were made without any discussion with governors."

Welcome, Governors :hi: Tell us something the rest of us already don't know. By the way, how are those state impeachment votes coming along?