Talk locally has moved towards whether or not there will be a Guam Military Buildup. After three public hearings on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) there seems to be more talk that could compromise the effort to move components of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force to Guam.
In Washington D.C. this past week, Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee Carl Levin remarked with the markup of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2015 that his committee terminated "troubled or unnecessary programs and activities, identifies efficiencies, and reduces defense expenditures in light of the Nation's budget deficit problems." Among the casualties-$80.6 million to the Office of Economic Adjustment for projects related to the transfer of Marines to Guam. The Michigan Democrat used this opportunity to talk about "the many cases" where the House Armed Services Commitee went over the budget caps set by the Budget Control Act saying, "were not going to use unreal money."
The only response from the rudderless Democratic majority in the Guam Legislature-was anything else cut? Funny how our local elected leaders react when taken for a ride by members of their own party. The Speaker of the Guam Legislature should have got on the phone with the Guam Delegate and ask for an explanation. After their recent dress down of the senior stateswoman at Hessler Street, they would have received a polite, "we'll get back to you" and then silence.
Local Democrats are so out of touch with matters in the Nation's Capital that it is no wonder that they either seem far apart on national party matters or are absolutely uninformed. This Blogger and others in the community are concerned with the direction of Guam Democrats who will through studder steps take the Guam Buildup off the table completely. A little fact, talk about the Guam Buildup began in 1994 during the term of Former Guam Governor and Democrat leader Carl Gutierrez.
Don't think local Republicans are not without their collective share of rational behavior related to the recent SEIS hearings and comment period. The Republicans have stated they are in support of the process related to the buildup with a local GOP Senator saying, "There was an acknowledgement that it's a complete effort, the governor met with the families, the families met with the congresswoman and we're open to meet with them anytime, solutions are being put on the table to solve all angles of difficulties moving forward so I think what we're showing is everyone is continuing to dialogue and this process is fully in place." What does that mean? Spin?
The only ones taking a leadership role in this effort is Guam's business community. Our friends at the Guam Contractors Association said it best recently, "There are a few in the community that completely oppose any kind of military buildup in Guam and we respect their opinion, but in a democratic society, the majority prevails. So WE the majority need to state our case publicly and WE need to be heard!"
This blogger stands with the GCA and others who wholeheartedly support this buildup effort as it will buildup more jobs and opportunities for all Guamanians, buildup our economy, buildup a better sense of security from opposing forces, buildup pride in our heritage and buildup our relationship with the greatest nation in the world, the United States of America.