Military cuts on the way?

[Six Foot Three]

Well hopefully since the BRACC is expanding Ft.Bliss, Holloman AFB, White Sands Missle Range and Cannon AFB that the congress will leave these military installations in our region alone and not cut them since BRACC has supported them not just to stay open but to expand.

[luplor]

6 foot, just read an article on a military website, Gates is already announcing equipment cuts because of the economic crisis, etc. Have fingers crossed, as city council finally admitted they have 9 million budget shortfall, hiring freeze and budget cuts for all departments. Like I said it is throwing money around and borrowing like crazy in an effort to look New York.

[mistabinks]

Originally Posted by luplor

Have fingers crossed, as city council finally admitted they have 9 million budget shortfall, hiring freeze and budget cuts for all departments.

Hey Luplor, by chance do you remember when the city said it was going to freeze new hires? I knew about the shortfall but not about the hiring freeze.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by malamute

They were talking about a 25% cut in the military - I wonder if that's still the plan.

I guess we will find out.....*sigh*

I like being near a base. I just hope this doesn't affect Bliss/Holloman too much. One retiree here told me that he thinks Holloman will be in good shape for several more years.

I hope he's right.

[Six Foot Three]

Originally Posted by luplor

6 foot, just read an article on a military website, Gates is already announcing equipment cuts because of the economic crisis, etc. Have fingers crossed, as city council finally admitted they have 9 million budget shortfall, hiring freeze and budget cuts for all departments. Like I said it is throwing money around and borrowing like crazy in an effort to look New York.

I wonder if they still gutting the bases in Europe as maybe that will bring them savings without having to gut ours here in the states.

[luplor]

The article didnt say when about the freeze, just that it was in effect. One of the reasons we moved here is because of the miltary facilities so I am watching closely. I dont think they will close but can see them cutting back in size of soldiers and post regardless of contracts. I never seen a mil. contract, I wonder if they have a clause that states something like, since we dont control the purse strings we can cancel or reduce contract in accordance with instructions from DOD. If some of you were alive during the Viet Nam era, you might remember all the massive cuts then and no consideration being given to the local communities. Then the biggest joke, too many helo pilots so they let them go and then 10 yrs later, they were asking them to come back because of a shortage. The former pilots were furious, as many had to scrabble to get a job and now they were being asked to give up their new careers and return. We need REAL industry here in case there is a large reduction in military contracts.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Obama orders defense cuts for 2010. This may not sound like much, but consider that each year, the Fedearl Government spends billions on top of it's budget. Since the Joint Chiefs of Staff are being told to cut their spending by 10% for 2010 alone, that means they can't spend over their current limit, and need to stay within 10% below that. The delta could be 10 to 50 billion dollars. This is on top of the defense programs being cut back, or eliminated; this is not small chump change, this is weakening the US military and it will affect El Paso in the long run.

Not to turn this into a political debate, but let's face it, the far left despises the military, and all it stands for, and with the control of the Whitehouse and Congress in liberal hands, don't expect military spending to grow, regardless of what is going on with BRAC now.

Defense Official: Obama Calling for Defense Budget Cuts - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

[Bo]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

Obama orders defense cuts for 2010. This may not sound like much, but consider that each year, the Fedearl Government spends billions on top of it's budget. Since the Joint Chiefs of Staff are being told to cut their spending by 10% for 2010 alone, that means they can't spend over their current limit, and need to stay within 10% below that. The delta could be 10 to 50 billion dollars. This is on top of the defense programs being cut back, or eliminated; this is not small chump change, this is weakening the US military and it will affect El Paso in the long run.

Not to turn this into a political debate, but let's face it, the far left despises the military, and all it stands for, and with the control of the Whitehouse and Congress in liberal hands, don't expect military spending to grow, regardless of what is going on with BRAC now.

Defense Official: Obama Calling for Defense Budget Cuts - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

Warning: This forum is not the place to debate national politics. I'm reluctantly leaving this post in the thread ATM, but if it turns out to be the first volley of a debate, it'll be deleted along with any debating replies.

You can debate the politics of military funding to your heart's content in City-Data's Politics and Other Controversies forum.