Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 14, 1995 TAG: 9507140118
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Clinton had agonized for weeks over the independent commission's recommendations, which he said unfairly whacked California and Texas. His delay led critics to charge he was playing presidential politics as the military struggled to cut spending in post-Cold War America.
``I deeply resent the suggestion that this is somehow a political deal,'' an agitated Clinton, poking the air with his finger, told reporters Thursday morning outside the White House.
Clinton argued that the base-closure group did not sufficiently take into account the economic hardship its findings would wreak on California and Texas.
``I am tired of these arguments about politics,'' he said. ``My political concern is the political economy of America and what happens to the people in these communities, and are they being treated fairly. Now I do not disagree with every recommendation the base-closing commission made, but this is an outrage.''
Nevertheless, he had sent a letter to the commission by the early afternoon accepting the list.
Clinton's decision was received with disappointment and disgust from California lawmakers, who had baldly warned the president that unless he moved to protect the Golden State, he risked losing its 54 electoral votes. Almost every political analyst agrees that if Clinton is to be re-elected next year, he will have to win those votes.
``I am very sad. I think this is a mistake,'' said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
In the end, scholars and political scientists said, Clinton decided he would have absorbed more political damage from extending special help to California than from accepting the independent base-closure commission's recommendations.
Bases approved by President Clinton on Thursday for closing or realignment:
In Virginia, the Army would lose Fort Pickett, and the Navy would lose its Command and Ocean Surveillance Center in Norfolk. The Naval Management Systems Support Office in Chesapeake also would close, but some of its functions would remain in the Norfolk area.
Many jobs in others states would transfer to Virginia, however; overall, the state would gain 1,928 military jobs, and another 1,460 in private-sector businesses serving the military. Almost all of the new jobs would be in the Hampton Roads and suburban Washington areas.
The Independent Base Closure and Realignment Commission was established in 1988 in an attempt to isolate wrenching economic decisions from politics. Because the independent panel's recommendations essentially have to be accepted or rejected in their entirety, lawmakers and presidents have been willing to accept cuts in politically sensitive areas rather than sink the entire packages. Since 1988, there have been 329 installations shut down or cut back.
In this round, the commission recommended the closure of 79 bases and called for scaling back 26 others.
The panel said that would save $19.3 billion over 20 years.
The Associated Press contributed information to this story.
by CNB