Senators quick to protest Guard restructuring plan

WASHINGTON – A Pentagon plan to restructure the Army National Guard has sparked bipartisan outcries in Congress even before President Bush’s formal proposal, showing the clout of a force that draws members from communities across America.

Lawmakers’ pre-emptive objections point out the hurdles facing the administration as it seeks to persuade Congress to accept any defense changes that might hurt people back home.

Bush will ask Congress on Monday to give the Pentagon $439.3 billion, excluding the costs of fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, for the budget year that begins Oct. 1. The plan will include $5.25 billion to pay for the current numbers of Army National Guard forces, but not the higher level that Congress has authorized and lawmakers say is needed in wartime.

Additionally, the Pentagon wants to shift some Guard brigades from combat roles to support units.

“I don’t see how in the world the Guard meets its mission,” said Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C. Added Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa.: “You can mark my words. They’re not going to cut the National Guard.”

A bipartisan group of 75 senators said in a letter Thursday to the president that they “strongly oppose these proposals.”

From the Capitol to statehouses, Republicans and Democrats are making the argument that the country’s ability to defend itself would suffer under the Pentagon’s plan, given reservists’ major roles in Iraq and hurricane recovery.

The restructuring also will run into this political reality: Lawmakers are fiercely protective of the Guard units that bring jobs and pride to their hometowns.