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Had little to do with base closings, Bumpers says; pay raise is ‘obsceneBy STEVE McHENRY CN Staff Writerdt t i.-* — «* lt;I *1VW UidkEaker AFB has been notified that it is not a candidate for closing, Sen. Dale Bumpers has told why it was not selected.“Senator (David) Pryor, Congressman (Bill) Alexander and I had very little to do with the closing list,” Bumpers told a lunchtime gathering of the Blythe-ville Lion’s Club Tuesday afternoon.“The Air Force has never wanted to close the base,” Bumpers said.He said there were four reasons the base was not selected to be closed and no amount of personal lobbying by state officials would have made a difference in the decision.“First,” he said, “community relations are excellent. The people appreciate the base. Also, the location is excellent for a strategic base. As long as we have bombers it will be important. If the Soviets ever launch a strike, other bases will be more vulnerable because it will take 5-8 minutes longer for missiles to hit. ”In addition, he said, “The chance for a Stealth bomber squadron for the base is excellent. Lastly, the weather is excellent; there are more good flying days here than anywhere.”Speaking to area leaders, the Senator came out in favor of a strong national defense, but a defense which is not wasteful of taxpayer’s money.“I’m not going to promise to vote for the MX Rail Garrison Missile,” he said.Eaker is one of a dozen bases being considered for basing the MX missile.“The MX is a wonderful missile,” he said. “It is the most accurate missile by far. It is less than half as expensive as the Midgetman Missile. ’ ’However, he said, “The problem with the MX is that it needs six hours warning of an attack to move them out of cover to fire.”Bumpers said he saw no point in putting missiles in sil06 which are already targeted by Soviet missies.He said that he promised to listen to the debate on the MX, butcould not yet tell how he would vote on the matter.Bumpers said that one of thefirst things that should be deleted from the defense budget was former President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, or “Star Wars.”“There is no sense to spend trillions of dollars on a system that won’t work. It will be 2050 before it could ever be started,” he said.He noted that current technology is unable to place the massive nuclear power plants in space which would be needed to make SDI work.Bumpers said that defense spending is 5.7 percent of the U.S. Gross National Product, while Japan’s defense spending runs about one-and-one-half percent.“We could save billions on ‘Star Wars’” he said. “The worst way to cut the defense budget is to cut manpower, although I think we should bring home some troops from Germany.“Why spend money on others if they don’t want to pay for their own defense? They have an obligation to pick up their share,” he said.The federal budget deficit is the biggest problem to face the new Bush administration, he said.“I don’t know if Bush can keep his promise (not to raise taxes),” he said.He said a proposed gasoline tax has some appeal, in that it would encourage conservation, help reduce the trade deficit and help reduce the “greenhouse effect” which many scientists say is creating a warmer climate.“However,” he said, “the gas tax is regressive and I am not inclined to do it because it would hurt Arkansans.”While saying that he wants to stay out of the fray of Governor Bill Clinton’s proposed tax packages, Bumpers said he is generally in favor of the program.“Kids want ‘instant’ everything,” he said. “Kids avoid low wages and there is too much debt after they get out of school. If we want to attract the best and brightest, we have to pay them weU.”Bumpers also said that a proposed 50 percent pay raise will not pass the Congress.“It is not going to happen, in my opinion,” he said. “It will be detea ted 95-5 in the Senate. Theproposal is obscene. ’ ’He said the proposal might be another matter if the federal budget were balanced.By SCOTT GLIDEWELL CN Staff Writer BLYTHEVILLE - At the regular monthly meeting of the Mississippi County Quorum Court Tuesday night, Blytheville TV Cable Company owner Harold T. Sudbury, Jr., was appointed as a member of the Board of Governors for the Mississippi Countyw» . t n _ a“It’s not that big a deal financially, but the symbolism is important. If you don’t think symbolism in Washington is important, ask Michael Dukakis,” he said.Of the man who defeated Dukakis, Bumpers said that he isferred funds totaling $50,000 needed for renovation of the courthouse in Blytheville and for relocation of the County School Supervisor’s Office. Funds totaling $10,625.81 came from the Capital Expenditures Fund and were transferred into the County General Master Account. A balance of $39,374.19 already available forlooking forward to working withBush“Not once in eight years did Reagan extend his hand in friendship to Congress,” he said. “I think Bush will make a valiant effort to get along with Congress. ”sippi County fire departments in the past.The court also discussed where to install 911 emergency service computers once they are available. The court had planned to install the equipment at the Missco Sheriff’s Department, but lack of room there caused discussion to reopen for putting the svstemNUCOR—YAMATO TOUR - Following his speech to area civic clubs Tuesday afternoon, U.S. Sen. Dale Bumpers (left) was given a tour of theMcHenryNucor-Yamato steel mill by John Correnti, vice-president and general manager of the plant.QC appoints Sudbury to hospital panel
Newspaper Details
Blytheville Courier News
Blytheville, Arkansas, US
Wed, Jan 25, 1989
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Arkansas S.
AR, USA 26 Aug 2021
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