Gov.'s Plan Would Slash N.M. Weapons
By Jeff Jones And John Fleck, Journal Staff WritersSlashing the number of nuclear warheads by 90 percent. Cutting the nuclear weapons budget by more than half. Eliminating the nation's newest warhead.
Gov. Bill Richardson's presidential campaign Wednesday unveiled a sweeping plan to "modernize the military" and save more than $57 billion a year in the process.
Among the collateral damage would be several projects with major ties to New Mexico. In addition to cuts in nuclear programs— the lifeblood of New Mexico's national labs— Richardson's plan would reduce the number of F-22 Raptor fighter jets the U.S. plans to buy, cancel the CV-22 Osprey and scrub the Airborne Laser Program.
The effect of the proposed cuts on New Mexico is not clear, but they would be substantial. Los Alamos and Sandia national labs, which employ 22,000 New Mexicans, get the bulk of their funding from the nuclear weapons program.
Concerning some of the cuts, campaign spokesman Tom Reynolds said, "The governor is aware this may have an impact in New Mexico. ... We're looking beyond parochial politics with an emphasis on the greater good for the country."
His plan also proposes reducing the number of warheads from 10,000 to 1,000; slowing the Army's development of unproven future combat systems; and canceling a class of submarines.
The campaign released a two-page sketch of Richardson's defense reorganization plan Wednesday, promising more details when Richardson gives a "major" policy speech on the matter next week at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Reynolds said Richardson envisions using some of the estimated savings of $57.14 billion a year to beef up U.S. military special forces and intelligence agencies and re-equip National Guard troops in need of new gear due to the ongoing war in Iraq.
Reynolds said some of the savings also would go to improve health care and education at home.
13 comments:
Bill wants to slice the nuclear weapons labs in HALF!!! Tom Udall voted for drastic cuts to the LANL budget.
Think about all this before you pull the lever at next year's elections. Even if Hillary wins, LANL is in for big trouble in the next few years. This year's layoffs are probably just the beginning of a very nasty trend for LANL.
"In addition to cuts in nuclear programs— the lifeblood of New Mexico's national labs— Richardson's plan would reduce the number of F-22 Raptor fighter jets the U.S. plans to buy, cancel the CV-22 Osprey and scrub the Airborne Laser Program."
Way to go, Bill. The Osprey is finally beginning to show some real potential for transporting our Marines safely into battle and the squadron is based here at Kirtland AB. It's a fantastic plane!
And the F-22 Raptor will be able to take down any enemy for the next 20 years.
Kirtland is also a big part of the Airborne Laser program.
Perhaps, Bill, you are also supporting the base closing for Kirtland? Sure sounds like it from your press release.
This man is a disaster for New Mexico. If he runs for the Presidency, he won't be able to even take his own state!
The storm clouds above LANL just keep getting darker and darker. Really, if there is any way you can get out of here and take another job, you need to seriously consider the options. Unfortunately, LANL is becoming a very debatable place in which to anchor one's career.
This breaking news just in....
*** GALLUP: Trust in Federal Government, On Nearly All Issues, Hits New Low
-- Even Less Than in Watergate Era
By E&P Staff
Published: September 27, 2007 10:30 AM ET
NEW YORK A new Gallup poll reveals that, as the organization puts it, Americans now "express less trust in the federal government than at any point in the past decade, and trust in many federal government institutions is now lower than it was during the Watergate era, generally recognized as the low point in American history for trust in government."
www.editorandpublisher.com/
eandp/news/
article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003647275
I guess when Bill Richardson and Tom Udall had their fund raising party at Central Avenue Grill two weeks ago they were talking out the RIGHT side of their mouths that says "more funding for LANL".
Once they are safely off the Hill, the LEFT side of their mouth takes over and they like to say "slash, slash, slash!".
You might not like St. Pete, but at least he's consistent in his views.
In a parallel universe somewhere, both Bill Richardson and Tom Udall are lying junkie whores who make their money by blowing the public for big tips.
Wait a minute. That's in THIS universe!
Sounds like someone is just now figuring out what politicians are all about.
8:14
YOU go to hell, moron!
Our bridges would be fine if you worried so much about the waste of budget that is intended to be spent on highway maintenance but instead goes to pet projects; our schools are NOT falling apart; the half of the population that can't afford health insurance either CAN and choose not to (instead thinking it is someone else's responsibility to provide it to them) or go it alone out of pocket or simply choose to do without; and the whole damn planet is NOT burning up - prove it if it is (and no, rising temps alone don't prove it). Jerk
Ewwww, looks like 8:14 PM needs to get to bed early tonight and get a good night's sleep. A bit cranky today, are we? That tofu burger not sitting well on your tummy?
And, no, we won't be going to Hell. We're going to steadily make even more and more money, just to piss you off. If you're nice, though, we'll let you park our expensive cars at the valet parking. Just don't expect any tip. You have a bad attitude, kid.
"You all are so damn self-serving. No, let's keep feeding the nuclear hogs of Los Alamos. So what if we can't afford to maintain our bridges, or if our schools are falling apart, or if half our population can't afford healthcare, or if the whole damn planet is burning up! Let's just make sure we keep the nation's wealthiest community well fed. Go to hell you morons!
9/27/07 8:14 PM"
Hey dipsh*t who do think will solve all those problems? They are called scientists and engineers. Now that young people see how they get treated at the nations largest
science lab they will think that stuff like invest banking is way better than science. You go to hell you ungratefull piece of ...
It pains me to say this as a scientist, but I really don't want any of my kids entering the scientific fields. More and more work is being outsourced from the US. Even some of the high end chip design work at mega-companies like Intel now goes overseas.
Maybe at some point down the road when we have global wage parity it will be safe to be a US scientist once again. Till then, business degrees pay well and the work can be relatively stable. Investment banking is even better. And the demographics of the baby boomers will make anything in the medical field very profitable in the future.
In general, if your job can be done over a wire, it probably will be. Only jobs that require face-to-face contact or involve US national security are safe in this country. And as we now know at LANL, even the national security jobs are becoming 'iffy'.
Richardson is a punk ass, always has been. At least we have Arnold here in California....then again, we also have Barbara Boxer.......
kob.com/
article/stories/S209004.shtml?cat=520
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Richardson Proposes Military Budget Cuts
- KOB TV, Sep 27
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A new statement by Governor Richardson is raising a lot of eyebrows in New Mexico. During his presidential campaign, Richardson said if he is elected president, he'd slash military spending.
His plan would mean big changes for military bases and national laboratories in New Mexico.
...One of the biggest cuts that could affect New Mexico would be eliminating nuclear warhead programs, and *** slashing the budget for nuclear weapons research***. Those proposals could have a major impact on Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories.
In a statement to Eyewitness News 4, a spokesperson for Sandia National Labs said, "Though safeguarding the nation's nuclear stockpile is an important mission of Sandia's, it's not our only mission, if the needs of the nation change, then our mission would change to accommodate that."
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Meanwhile, Mike pondered LANL's sudden change in fortune like a delicate fuzzy ewok on a railroad track, transfixed and frozen in front of the strong lights of a large, fast oncoming train. Splat!!!
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