Updated at 5:00 p.m., Monday, July 6, 2009
Washington Post editorial criticizes Abercrombie defense bill provision
Advertiser Staff
A Washington Post editorial today criticized U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie for inserting a provision into the 2010 Defense Authorization Bill just passed by the House that doubles the cost of relocating U.S. troops from Okinawa to Guam.
With 8,000 Marines and their dependents leaving Futenma Air Station, a new base will have to be built on Guam. Japan has agreed to pay much of the relocation cost.
Under Abercrombie’s provision, at least 70 percent of the construction force will have to be U.S. citizens and be paid at Hawaii’s prevailing wage rate, which is double to triple Guam’s.
An initial estimate of construction expenses was near $300 million. The change could drive construction worker compensation costs to more than $10 billion.
In a news release sent out last month, Abercrombie said: “At a time when a depressed economy has dealt a body blow to our construction industry, the Department of Defense should not even consider turning over badly needed jobs to foreign workers at questionable wages.”
The Post also quoted Abercrombie as saying, “This is a huge opportunity to put Americans to work, in an American territory, building an American military base. My amendments provide clear guidelines to manage the buildup while ensuring quality work for our service members and their families.”
In its editorial today, the Post said: “If giving U.S. workers jobs on Guam is a priority, this could be accomplished without driving wages up artificially to such a high level.
“You could, for example, keep the 70 percent restriction on foreign workers and let the market determine their wages. But given that Japan is paying for much of the relocation, does it make sense to limit the participation of Japanese construction firms and their workers?
“These provisions will complicate a process already fraught with challenges. Guam’s overburdened infrastructure will be sorely taxed by the new arrivals, who will amount to a 14 percent population increase, requiring an estimated $6.1 billion of work on roads, water, sewerage, waste processing and the power grid. Since Guam’s annual budget is less than $1 billion, this money will have to come from outside. Why add to the burden on taxpayers with these unnecessary provisions? It is tempting to seize on any plan that tries to offer Americans jobs, but this cost is too great.”
Source: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090706/BREAKING01/90706006/Washington+Post+editorial+criticizes+Abercrombie+defense+bill+provision
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