Lowden Unknowingly Praises Reid’s Clout to Save Jobs
Reid Prevented Base Closing that Lowden Acknowledges Nevadans Rely On
LAS VEGAS – Today, Republican senate candidate Sue Lowden unknowingly praised Senator Reid’s track record using his clout to save hundreds of jobs in Northern Nevada. Standing outside of the Hawthorne Army Depot that Senator Reid prevented from closing, she touted the importance of the base to hundreds of Nevada families in a Twitter post.
“sue_lowden: Outside the gates of the Hawthorne Army Depot. Many residents in Mineral County rely on the base for the jobs it provides. http://ow.ly/Z5w7”, read the post.
In the last Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round, Senator Reid’s position in Senate leadership saved almost 350 jobs between keeping Hawthorne open and keeping the C-130s from being redeployed away from the Reno/Tahoe airport, despite the Commission’s original intent to close the facilities. Federal law requires the President to consult with Congress before taking action to close military facilities. As a member of leadership, Sen. Reid not only arranged for BRAC members to visit Nevada twice, but was able to appoint Jim Bilbray, a Nevadan, to the BRAC Commission to ensure the state’s interests were looked after. As Majority Leader, Sen. Reid appoints two members to the Commission.
Sen. Reid has secured $60 million in federal appropriations for the Hawthorn Army Depot. Both Sue Lowden and fellow Republican primary opponent Danny Tarkanian both have stated they would leave this money on the table, as they would not seek earmarks for Nevada.
In an op-ed to the Reno Gazette-Journal, then Adjunct General Cynthia Kirkland wrote:
“The BRAC recommendations were arguably the most aggressive ever proposed and promised to affect more than 800 military installations, including hundreds of National Guard facilities. Thankfully, however, no Nevada community will be negatively affected. Through the tremendous efforts of Nevada's legislative delegation, especially Sen. Harry Reid, community leaders and our supportive populace, the BRAC recommendations will not adversely impact Nevada in any way, despite the fact that the Hawthorne Army Depot was set to close and the Nevada Air Guard's C-130 fleet was proposed to move to Arkansas when the initial BRAC list was revealed. We in the military in Nevada will forever be indebted to Sen. Reid for his work in urging BRAC Chairman Anthony Principi and Commissioner Phillip Coyle to visit Nevada and see firsthand the necessity of retaining all military resources and assets in the Silver State.” [Gazette-Journal, Cynthia Kirkland Column, 11/23/05]
“We are pleased that Sue Lowden understands how Sen. Reid’s leadership position is crucial to supporting Nevada’s troops and saving good paying jobs,” said campaign manager Brandon Hall. “As leader of the Senate, any attempts to shut down Nevada’s military bases must go through him first. A freshman senator simply does not have the clout required to stop the BRAC Commission from closing their state’s bases and putting hundreds out of work.”
BACKGROUND
Because Of Reid, Nevada “[Had] A Key Ally On The Panel.” In August 2005, the Sun reported, “Nevada has a key ally on the panel -- James Bilbray, a former Nevada congressman. Federal law requires that the president consult with minority congressional leaders, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., recommended Bilbray. Before the vote Wednesday Bilbray correctly predicted a unanimous vote against the Hawthorne closure. It was 7-0, with Bilbray and Commissioner James Hansen abstaining.” [Las Vegas Sun, 8/25/05]
Losing Hawthorne Army Depot Would Have Cost Northern Nevada 199 Jobs. In May 2005, the Gazette-Journal reported, “The Defense Department recommended closing Hawthorne Army Depot on Friday and moving planes from Reno's Air National Guard station to other states, resulting in the loss of 346 jobs in Northern Nevada. The Pentagon proposed shifting the C-130H airplanes stationed at Reno/Tahoe International Airport Air Guard Station to Arkansas and scattering related support groups elsewhere, which would eliminate 147 jobs. Shuttering Hawthorne Army Depot and sending its workload to Tooele Army Depot in Utah would cost another 199 jobs.” [Gazette-Journal, 5/13/05]
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Lowden Unknowingly Praises Reid’s Clout to Save Jobs
Reid Prevented Base Closing that Lowden Acknowledges Nevadans Rely On
LAS VEGAS – Today, Republican senate candidate Sue Lowden unknowingly praised Senator Reid’s track record using his clout to save hundreds of jobs in Northern Nevada. Standing outside of the Hawthorne Army Depot that Senator Reid prevented from closing, she touted the importance of the base to hundreds of Nevada families in a Twitter post.
“sue_lowden: Outside the gates of the Hawthorne Army Depot. Many residents in Mineral County rely on the base for the jobs it provides. http://ow.ly/Z5w7”, read the post.
In the last Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round, Senator Reid’s position in Senate leadership saved almost 350 jobs between keeping Hawthorne open and keeping the C-130s from being redeployed away from the Reno/Tahoe airport, despite the Commission’s original intent to close the facilities. Federal law requires the President to consult with Congress before taking action to close military facilities. As a member of leadership, Sen. Reid not only arranged for BRAC members to visit Nevada twice, but was able to appoint Jim Bilbray, a Nevadan, to the BRAC Commission to ensure the state’s interests were looked after. As Majority Leader, Sen. Reid appoints two members to the Commission.
Sen. Reid has secured $60 million in federal appropriations for the Hawthorn Army Depot. Both Sue Lowden and fellow Republican primary opponent Danny Tarkanian both have stated they would leave this money on the table, as they would not seek earmarks for Nevada.
In an op-ed to the Reno Gazette-Journal, then Adjunct General Cynthia Kirkland wrote:
“The BRAC recommendations were arguably the most aggressive ever proposed and promised to affect more than 800 military installations, including hundreds of National Guard facilities. Thankfully, however, no Nevada community will be negatively affected. Through the tremendous efforts of Nevada's legislative delegation, especially Sen. Harry Reid, community leaders and our supportive populace, the BRAC recommendations will not adversely impact Nevada in any way, despite the fact that the Hawthorne Army Depot was set to close and the Nevada Air Guard's C-130 fleet was proposed to move to Arkansas when the initial BRAC list was revealed. We in the military in Nevada will forever be indebted to Sen. Reid for his work in urging BRAC Chairman Anthony Principi and Commissioner Phillip Coyle to visit Nevada and see firsthand the necessity of retaining all military resources and assets in the Silver State.” [Gazette-Journal, Cynthia Kirkland Column, 11/23/05]
“We are pleased that Sue Lowden understands how Sen. Reid’s leadership position is crucial to supporting Nevada’s troops and saving good paying jobs,” said campaign manager Brandon Hall. “As leader of the Senate, any attempts to shut down Nevada’s military bases must go through him first. A freshman senator simply does not have the clout required to stop the BRAC Commission from closing their state’s bases and putting hundreds out of work.”
BACKGROUND
Because Of Reid, Nevada “[Had] A Key Ally On The Panel.” In August 2005, the Sun reported, “Nevada has a key ally on the panel -- James Bilbray, a former Nevada congressman. Federal law requires that the president consult with minority congressional leaders, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., recommended Bilbray. Before the vote Wednesday Bilbray correctly predicted a unanimous vote against the Hawthorne closure. It was 7-0, with Bilbray and Commissioner James Hansen abstaining.” [Las Vegas Sun, 8/25/05]
Losing Hawthorne Army Depot Would Have Cost Northern Nevada 199 Jobs. In May 2005, the Gazette-Journal reported, “The Defense Department recommended closing Hawthorne Army Depot on Friday and moving planes from Reno's Air National Guard station to other states, resulting in the loss of 346 jobs in Northern Nevada. The Pentagon proposed shifting the C-130H airplanes stationed at Reno/Tahoe International Airport Air Guard Station to Arkansas and scattering related support groups elsewhere, which would eliminate 147 jobs. Shuttering Hawthorne Army Depot and sending its workload to Tooele Army Depot in Utah would cost another 199 jobs.” [Gazette-Journal, 5/13/05]
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