Posted on 07/30/2005 10:33:39 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper
WASHINGTON - Montana Republicans criticized Democratic Sen. Max Baucus on Friday for revealing his plan to reopen the closed runway at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls too early.
Baucus said Wednesday that adding the Malmstrom provision to a massive highway spending bill moving through Congress was a "done deal." But House members objected to the language Thursday, delaying passage of the bill and forcing Baucus to abandon the plan Friday morning.
"The timing was very bad," said Montana's other senator, Republican Conrad Burns. He said Friday that this week's public flap about Malmstrom will make it harder for the delegation to push the language through Congress.
"We are supportive of what Max tried to do, but on the other end there is a process you go through to get these things done," Burns said.
"Sometimes when you have a good idea it's not the best idea to broadcast it to everyone," said Erik Iverson, chief of staff for Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont.
"I've given it my best," Baucus said on the Senate floor Friday morning. "I will never apologize for fighting for Montana."
Baucus spokesman Barrett Kaiser responded to the criticism, saying Baucus "did what you want a good leader to do - take a good idea, run with it and push the ball down the field."
Montana's Democratic governor was more forgiving than Burns and Rehberg.
"I would like to thank Senator Baucus for his work on behalf of Montanans," Gov. Brian Schweitzer said. "I am disappointed that the House removed this common-sense provision to have an opened runway in one of the nation's most critical Air Force bases."
All three members of Montana's congressional delegation said Friday they will continue to fight to reopen the runway, which was closed after Malmstrom lost its KC-135 refueling air tanker mission in a 1995 round of base closings. But getting the language through Congress won't be easy.
Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., whose state could lose a submarine base at Groton under this year's round of proposed base closings, said Thursday night it was "absolutely outrageous" that the delegation would try to reverse a previous decision on closing a military facility.
The House later voted to strip the Malmstrom language from the bill.
Shays said Friday he will continue to oppose the Malmstrom language.
"I am going to oppose any member trying to open any base that has been closed by BRAC," he said of the Base Closing and Realignment Commission that oversees the process.
"He overreached," Shays said of Baucus. "It was deceptive and dishonest and he won't get away with it."
Rehberg introduced new legislation Friday to reopen the runway, saying he has the cooperation of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. "We aren't saying it's going to be easy, but House leadership is working very closely on this and that is encouraging because we need to have their backing," said Iverson.
A spokesman for DeLay said he would not comment on internal discussions between members.
Montana's congressional delegation has argued that opening the runway would help the state retain its Air National Guard Mission. The Pentagon in May recommended that the Air Guard, based at Great Falls International Airport near Malmstrom, lose all of its F-16 fighter planes.
But Baucus and Burns said July 21 that Pentagon officials have promised the guard base will retain its flying mission no matter what happens in this year's round of base closings and realignments.
Both senators have suggested reopening the runway at Malmstrom could help expand that mission.
Ping.
I hope Baucus doesn't screw up our bypass funds here in Kalispell.
In other words, do like the other do. Hide it where no one is aware of it. Politics 101.
I propose a law whereby no politician may author a bill, provision, or amendment to benefit their own district.
Colluding with another legislator in a quid pro quo fashion would be punishable as fraud or bribery.
We MUST reign in this institutionalized pork-a-thon.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.