Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, says President Clinton's new defense budget is illegally pushing to "privatize in place" two Air Force depots that compete with Hill Air Force Base.
"They have gone so far as to propose spending scarce military construction dollars to improve closing facilities as hand-outs to private corporations," Hansen said.The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission last year ordered the closure of McClellan Air Force Base, Calif., and Kelly Air Force Base, Texas - two "air logistics center" depots that competed with Hill for workload and survival.
However, Clinton vowed to the vote-rich states of Texas and California to try to keep the bases' workload in place by turning over the bases to private contractors.
Hansen and others have howled that Clinton's plan violates base closure and contracting laws, eliminates savings that would come from closure of the bases and prevents transfer of missions and work to Hill.
He complained that the administration's defense budget released this week shows it is proceeding with that plan by providing $8.8 million for flood control work at McClellan and $3.3 million for a new wing support facility at Kelly.
Hansen complained about that to Defense Secretary William Perry during National Security Committee hearings this week - and issued a press release attacking the administration.
Hansen asked Perry to respond in writing to several questions, including, in his wording:
"Why does this administration continue to flaunt BRAC law and pursue a policy that is in clear violation of several longstanding laws passed by the committee?"
"Why would this administration want to risk military readiness and the long-term efficiency of its best depot facilities by retaining excess capacity and forcing work to its least efficient and most costly facilities?
"What is your plan to move workload to the remaining depots to eliminate this excess capacity and reduce costs?"
Hansen said, "I look forward to the answers to these questions and would remind the president that no one is above the law."
He added, "If the president insists on circumventing the BRAC (base-closing) process for political gain in California, I would remind him there are 49 other states who will want the same treatment."
Of note, the administration's new defense budget - released earlier this week - includes $7.93 million for construction at three Utah facilities.
That includes $3.69 million to improve fire protection at Hill Air Force Base; $2.25 million for an electronics security squadron complex for the Air National Guard in Salt Lake City; and $1.99 million for a U.S. Navy Reserve training center at the Utah National Guard's Camp Williams.