Just as Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, is doing in the House, Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan., said Wednesday he will introduce a bill in the Senate to delay the 1995 round of base closures for two years.
That could help Utah's Hill Air Force Base, one of five huge purchasing and repair centers for the Air Force. The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission has said it hopes to close two of those five centers next year - putting Hill at risk."The fact is, we haven't realized any savings so far from the very first round of base closures, which occurred back in 1988," Dole said. Salt Lake City's Fort Douglas was among the military facilities ordered closed at that time.
"With escalating costs to pay for the environmental cleanup and to assist communities hard hit by the loss of their bases, we simply don't have the money to take on another round of base closures at this time," he said.
Meanwhile, Hansen has obtained 30 co-sponosors for similar legislation in the House. Aides said Hansen may try to attach it to the annual Defense Appropriations Bill when it comes before the full House.
Also this week, unnamed Pentagon officials told the Associated Press that the Clinton administration is considering adding a 1997 round of closures - even if the 1995 round is not canceled. That could delay many sensitive base closure decisions until after the next presidential election.