January 27, 2012 in News

As bases face cuts, Fairchild will stay put: McMorris Rodgers

Mike Prager The Spokesman-Review

Cuts in U.S. defense spending should have minimal impact on Fairchild Air Force Base, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers said Friday.

Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced $487 billion in cuts over the next decade as the military shifts to strategic missions while reducing personnel.

McMorris Rodgers said the airborne refueling mission at Fairchild fits into the strategic future of being able to project power quickly abroad, particularly to Asia.

“The role Fairchild plays is a top priority,” she said during a visit with local media in downtown Spokane.

She spoke shortly after meeting with local officials in the business-endorsed Fairchild First campaign to bring the first new Boeing KC-46A tankers to Fairchild as early as 2017.

“We want the tankers to come here first,” she said.

The Air Force is replacing its 1950s-era KC-135s with the new tanker, which features a Boeing 767 airframe and a Boeing 787 digital flight deck.

Boeing won a $35 billion contract for 179 “new generation” tankers after a protracted competition with Airbus parent company EADS.

The air bases selected for the new tankers will get about $200 million in upgrades.

The Air Force is expected to issue criteria early in the spring for selection of bases that will get the tankers first. Local officials are also urging the Air Force to make Fairchild the training center for the new planes.

On a related issue, McMorris Rodgers said she is sending a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs outlining concerns about a Spokane Tribe proposal to build a new 14-story casino and hotel near Craig Road and U.S. Highway 2, a short distance from Fairchild.

The bureau is undertaking an environmental impact study, and McMorris Rodgers wants the study to examine how a casino might affect Fairchild now and in the future. She said Air Force officials are expected to provide input into that study as well.

Greater Spokane Incorporated and other organizations have opposed the casino because it might be considered an unwanted encroachment on military air operations, which could be viewed as a threat the Fairchild’s longterm viability.

The Federal Aviation Administration has ruled that the casino would not interfere with operations at the air base.

15 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

Loudin on January 27 at 5:29 p.m.
Speaking of crutches, I see our 2-D congresswoman is playing the same old “Fairchild” violin again.
Hey Cathy: Instead of sending me overtly partisan mailings asking my opinion (mailings paid for by all taxpayers) and peddling the same ol’ “Fairchild blah, blah, blah” stuff, why not get some real bipartisan legislation going that will turn this country around?
Really, you’re like a cartoon now, Lady. When your name isn’t the paper, you spring a “Fairchild” press release like that’s all that matters in Eastern Washington. I realize it’s important to keep that connection going, as you’ll be a defense contractor lobbyist some day. But why not represent all of us now, while you have the chance?
Loudin
PS: Eastern Washington > Fairchild Air Force Base
Pigrobin on January 27 at 5:50 p.m.
I give up, what’s your point? Have you not been paying attention to the president and SECDEF on the defense cuts facing this nation? Here’s some reading to help you catch up with what’s happening in this arena: http://r.listpilot.net/c/afa/6vppo6l/2xr6e
liberal_in_right_wing_land on January 27 at 5:58 p.m.
Out of a whole bunch of worthless members of congress its almost laughable to hear the most worthless of them all now talking about Fairchild….must be time for re-election Cathy? Have to make it look like you actually care about Spokane for a few months.
I am surprised you even remembered how to get back here from Washington DC.
Pigrobin on January 27 at 5:59 p.m.
And here’s the White Paper for those interested:
http://www.defense.gov/news/Defense_Budget_Priorities.pdf
johnclarke on January 27 at 6:01 p.m.
I don’t read anything in Cathy’s McWingNut’s quotes that I would call a “fact.” I doubt she has a clue about the future of Fairchild, but is all too happy to claim some form of credit in advance.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on January 27 at 6:15 p.m.
Crazy Cathy likes to take credit for things she has never done…..my favorite was when Crazy Cathy was railing against all things stimulus money, but then had no problem trying to take credit for getting funding and then posing for pictures with Senators Murray and Cantwell when the North-South Freeway got a big chunk of money from that stimulus package to finish the north portion of the freeway, even though she did NOTHING to get that money and it was all our evil democratic senators.
Sorry, she has no clue what is happening, at least not until her master Johnny Tan Man tells her.
sean96 on January 27 at 6:23 p.m.
Hey Rep. “McWingnut” you hate government right? It does not create wealth right? Then stand by your convictions and close Fairchild. And then run on it as your one and only accomplishment. Show some guts.
westerly on January 27 at 7:00 p.m.
McChord AFB, Tacoma (JBLM), is huge base for cargo aircraft, closer to Asia and much bigger than Fairchild…watch out….
greenlibertarian on January 27 at 7:01 p.m.
Pigrobin on January 27 at 5:50 p.m.
I give up, what’s your point? Have you not been paying attention to the president and SECDEF on the defense cuts facing this nation?
About time. As you folks are always saying “WE’RE BROKE!!!”
Fairchild would do well to figure how it can grab a piece of the drone action somehow, ‘cause that’s where the action is going, including completely robotic no human pilot drones.
Pigrobin on January 27 at 7:17 p.m.
Who are “you folks”?!?! A mind is a terrible thing to waste, I can’t believe you’re breathing our air. Just kidding!! Opinions are good, even stupid ones.
zelda on January 27 at 8:37 p.m.
I was amazed to see her on TV tonight. I had forgotten that she knows how to talk.
RedCedar on January 27 at 9:04 p.m.
Back in the days when the Washington delegation consisted of Warren Magnuson, Henry Jackson, and Tom Foley, there would have been NO doubt WHATSOEVER about the future of Fairchild.
oldarmy on January 27 at 11:11 p.m.
Fairchild is an outdated concept and base. She has NO CLUE and I will wager she is dead wrong! She is a do nothing unimpressive public servant without a clue.
oldarmy on January 27 at 11:12 p.m.
I am surprised that we have a VA hospital here..let alone an AFB.
WillyPeter on January 28 at 7:56 a.m.
Whoooaa!
Someone opened the hate-the-military herd’s barn doors kinda early, I guess, for the week-end.
Or maybe just gave ‘em an opportunity to bray, and lapse into normal misogynistic name calling directed at our member of congress, who will in fact be instrumental in “saving” FAFB…for which the fore-mentioned brayers lack any intelligent awareness of what that base really means to Spokane.
Nothing new here, folks……..