SASC, Wicker deliver state-smoozey to AF nominee

Lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a set of personalized signals Thursday to Deborah Lee James, the nominee for Secretary of the Air Force. During the nomination hearing, committee members provided lots of parochial concerns over military bases in their home states. These are the same lawmakers who have battled the military over plans to cut Defense Department costs threatening to cancel programs, close bases; and balking at hikes in fees for military health care. Just not in their backyards. Oklahoma Republican Jim Inhofe was concerned about the possible retirements of multiple Boeing-built aircraft that have a major presence in his state. Oklahoma supports about 28,000 jobs through direct or indirect work through more than 100 subcontractors. Later, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) touted two drones built in part on the state’s Gulf Coast regional: Aurora Flight Sciences’ Orion and the Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4 Global Hawk. The AF had proposed mothballing its Global Hawk Block 30s because they couldn’t afford to fly them, under sequestration. But that plan was shot down when powerful congressmen objected. Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) expects the panel to vote next week on James’ nomination and is aiming for Senate confirmation by Oct. 14. Source: POLITICO, Sept. 19, 2013.