House votes to delay military base closures

The president is expected to veto any bill that would delay the closures.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The U.S. House and Senate are heading for a showdown over plans to delay the closure of national military bases by two years.
The House voted Thursday to delay the implementation of the Base Realignment and Closure process from 2005 to 2007. The House rejected an amendment by a 259-162 vote to eliminate the two-year delay from the 2005 defense authorization bill.
The two-year delay was included in the defense authorization bill last week by the House Armed Services Committee.
The U.S. Senate voted 49-47 on Tuesday against an effort to delay BRAC.
The two legislative bodies will have to work out the details in conference committee. But those close to this issue say the two-year delay proposal appears dead because the Senate isn't willing to delay the process.
Also, President Bush is expected to veto any defense bill that delays the base closures. It doesn't appear the House has the two-thirds majority needed to override Bush's veto.
Efforts to save base
Supporters of saving the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna are continuing to work to protect the base. While the two-year cushion would have helped Operation Save Our Airbase Reservists, the local group working to save the air base, organizers say they will prepare the best plan to keep the facility off the closure list.
"We've made substantial progress in protecting and investing in the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, and we must carry on," said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a strong supporter of saving the local air base.
The air base employs more than 2,400 people.
A Washington, D.C., company, hired by Operation SOAR for $45,000, is preparing a study of the air base's strengths and weaknesses. The Spectrum Group, the company hired, says the base has many positive attributes that should keep it relatively safe from landing on the base closure list.
skolnick@vindy.com