Industry, Unions Step Up Pressure To Block Automatic Defense Cuts

[unhappycamper]

http://defense.aol.com/2012/03/07/industry-unions-step-up-pressure-to-block-automatic-defense-cut/


Industry, Unions Step Up Pressure To Block Automatic Defense Cuts
By Otto Kreisher
Published: March 7, 2012

WASHINGTON: The aerospace industry and its largest union have started a new campaign to pressure Congress and the administration to prevent sequester, which they say could result in the loss of more than one million jobs from aerospace, defense and related activities.

The new drive, kicked off with a news conference today (3/7), is called "Stop the Clock." It includes the gimmick of distributing a small computerized clock that counts down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the automatic cut of $1.2 trillion in government spending -- more than half in national security, aerospace and homeland security funds -- would kick in.

~snip~

Retired Air Force Gen. Charles Wald, now head of Deloitte's defense sector, said the threatened cut of more than $500 billion in defense funds would hurt national security at a time of rising threats from China and Iran. Because most of the funding cuts would have to come from procurement and research and development, the impact would be particularly harmful, given the advanced age of Air Force aircraft and decline in the traditional U.S. technological superiority.

AIA officials also warned that further cuts in FAA funding would stop work on the already delayed next generation air traffic control system, which could block the expected growth in commercial aviation. (The state-by-state data is available at www.secondtonone.org)

[Scuba]

1. Sounds like there's some labor leaders who don't understand you can build things other than weapons.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. Unionized defense jobs are some of the best paying out there

[kenfrequed]

2. I'm sorry...

Look, I know there are jobs on the line here and I know these jobs matter to people but in a time where everyone is having to make cuts, it is irresponsible to continue to overfund a bloated and ridiculous defence industry at the rates we have.

I just don't believe it is legitimate to expect this industry to not have to take cuts when necessary infrastructure and investments in our future in the way of education have to.

I just don't believe it is legitimate for them to balk when health and human services as well as provisions for the poor and elderly have to take a bath on this.

[Scuba]

5. +1

[unhappycamper]

3. And in other news,

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/03/army-tells-congress-we-dont-need-tanks-030712d/


Army brass to Congress: We don’t need new tanks
By Kate Brannen - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 7, 2012 18:56:36 EST

The Army tried to make the same argument last year, but Congress did not agree. In the 2012 defense appropriations bill, it provided an additional $255 million to buy 42 more tanks. The money was intended to keep the General Dynamics Land Systems’ production line open in Lima, Ohio.

[Scuba]

6. worthy of an OP, if it isn't. thanks.