BASE PANEL STICKS TO PLAN HITTING VENTURA COUNTY.Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau After a last-minute legal fight, the Federal Base Closure Commission submitted its recommendations to the White House on Thursday for overhauling 837 military bases. The list includes plans to shift thousands of workers from Point Mugu to China Lake and to downsize Downsize Reducing the size of a company by eliminating workers and/or divisions within the company. Notes: When a company downsizes, it is attempting to find ways to improve efficiency and increase profitability. It is sometimes referred to as trimming the fat. a Marine base in Barstow. The list was delivered after a day of intense legal challenges by lawmakers in several states concerned about closures, as well as a last-minute bid from the White House to protect the commission's recommendations. The commission was legally required to send its recommendations to President George W. Bush on Thursday. Bush is widely expected to approve the document by a Sept. 23 deadline. After that, the recommendation becomes binding within 45 legislative days unless Congress passes a joint resolution disapproving the list. While the BRAC Brač (bräch), Ital. Brazza, island (1991 pop. 13,824), 152 sq mi (394 sq km), off the Dalmatian coast in the Adriatic Sea, Croatia. It is a popular summer resort and tourist spot. Supetar (Ital. process has several detractors - including New Jersey Democrat Jon Corzine Jon Stevens Corzine (born January 1, 1947) is the Governor of New Jersey. He was sworn into office on January 17, 2006, for a four-year term ending in 2010. He represented New Jersey in the United States Senate from 2001 until 2006, when he stepped down to take his seat as , Mississipi Republican Sen. Trent Lott and a handful of Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, lawmakers concerned about local bases - few expect Congress to mount serious opposition. ``I'm sure there will be a disapproval effort,'' said Rep. Brad Sherman Bradley J. "Brad" Sherman (born October 24 1954) is an American politician. He has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997, representing California's At-large congressional district. , D-Sherman Oaks. But, he added, ``There may be politics involved that will protect the report.'' Corzine opposes the Pentagon and the commission's decision to close Fort Monmouth Fort Monmouth is a United States Army installation in Eatontown, Tinton Falls and Oceanport, New Jersey, and about one mile from the Atlantic Ocean. The base covers nearly 1,126 acres of land, from the Shrewsbury River west to Route 35, called Main Post. in his home state. In all, the list will identify 62 major and 775 smaller installations nationwide for closure or mission changes. By and large, California leaders have said the Pentagon and the commission spared the state, particularly compared with previous rounds of base closures. Naval Base A naval base primarily for support of the forces afloat, contiguous to a port or anchorage, consisting of activities or facilities for which the Navy has operating responsibilities, together with interior lines of communications and the minimum surrounding area necessary for local Ventura County took the biggest hit when the nine-member commission approved the Pentagon's plan to transfer possibly more than 2,000 jobs and warfare systems missions to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake For other uses, see China Lake (disambiguation). Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake or NAWS China Lake (ICAO: KNID, FAA LID: NID) is an airborne weapons testing and training range operated by the United States Navy and its contractors. in Ridgecrest. The Pentagon recommended offsetting that loss by moving jobs from the Naval Surface Warfare That portion of maritime warfare in which operations are conducted to destroy or neutralize enemy naval surface forces and merchant vessels. Also called SUW. System in Norco to Point Mugu, but the commission vetoed that idea. But with the brunt of the Pentagon cuts focused in the Northeast, state officials estimate California will take a relatively small blow from job cuts of 170,000 nationwide in this round of base closures. In four earlier rounds from 1988 to 1995, the state lost more than two dozen bases and about 93,000 jobs. Sherman and Reps. Elton Gallegly, R-Thousand Oaks, both said they will likely vote against the recommendations, and Sen. Barbara Boxer also said she will vote against it, arguing the Pentagon should not be closing bases during wartime. Sen. Dianne Feinstein issued a statement saying she will wait to hear the president's decision and will ``closely review the final recommendations once they come before the Senate.'' Lisa Friedman, (202) 662-8731 lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com |
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