Joint panel to help state retain military
By Joe Baker/Daily News staff
PROVIDENCE - A Senate committee unanimously approved establishing a joint legislative commission to develop a strategy for retaining and enhancing the state's defense industry.
The legislation was introduced in both the House and Senate. The Senate version approved Wednesday was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Teresa Paiva Weed, D-Newport. The House version is sponsored by House Majority Leader Gordon Fox, D-Providence.
The 25-member commission will be composed of lawmakers, business leaders, state officials and two public members with experience in the defense industry. It will supplant a House-only commission created two years ago to bolster the defense industry in Rhode Island before this year's Base Relocation and Closure process. The Pentagon is scheduled to announce in May which bases will be closed or relocated.
"We want to demonstrate our commitment to maintaining these industries here," Weed said.
There is intense competition among states to retain their respective military bases, Richard M. McAuliffe Jr., chairman of the Mayforth Group, which lobbies for defense contractors and the Newport County Chamber of Commerce, told members of the Senate Constitutional and Gaming Issues committee. Rhode Island needs to protect the 20,000 jobs and $1.6 billion in defense-related wages paid annually, he said.
"The issue here is we have a very difficult time competing with states like Texas, which has a standing (defense industry) committee and invested more than $100 million to help defense companies," McAuliffe said. "Quite frankly we're at a disadvantage."
McAuliffe praised the House commission, which was instrumental in reducing electric and garbage hauling costs for Naval Station Newport. It is those kinds of recurring costs that the Pentagon will weigh when considering which bases get the ax, he said.
"We need to find ways to continue expanding the defense economy," McAuliffe said. "This commission will take a comprehensive look at all issues related to the military presence in Rhode Island.
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