OLF action: serious lawmaking
Submitted by James on Wed, 03/04/2009 - 10:19am
Here's a bit of good news: Likely legislation that would prohibit the US Navy from dumping their outlying landing field on the people of North Carolina.
State Rep. Bill Owens, D-Pasquotank, may introduce legislation in the coming weeks aimed at preventing the US Navy from siting an outlying landing field in a county or region that does not have an existing military base.
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The legislation was drafted recently by Raleigh-based legal team Poyner Spruill, hired jointly by Camden and Currituck counties to assist in their anti-OLF efforts, and assisted by Camden County Attorney John Morrison of Twiford Law firm.
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Morrison said the Legislature does possess constitutional standing to exercise authority over the OLF. Citing the U.S. Constitution, Article 1, section 8, paragraph 17, Morrison said there's a "wonderful little comment" that powerfully argues the state's influence.
"(The Founding Fathers) are clearly talking about military installations," Morrison said.
According to Morrison, paragraph 17 says Congress can acquire a property in a state and may have exclusive control over it, only if the state's legislature gives its consent.
If consent is not given, then the property acquired would be subject to both the authority of the state, as well as the federal government.
If the Legislature agrees to introduce and approve the proposed bill, Morrison strongly believes the Navy could be stymied in their efforts to construct and operate an OLF.
- James's blog
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There was an OLF meeting
for the Hale's Lake community Saturday. About 600 or so folks showed up.
What was very nice at the meeting was Burr sent a rep, many of the county commissioners and some past commissioners from the three counties directly impacted were there.
Gov Perdue provided a nice letter to the NO OLF group that stated she is against an OLF any place in NC were the people do not support it. I respect her for that stand. She has been working that stand for a while now. In my mind, she was the first person to start the "requires local support" comments. Dole was close behind and the flood gates opened.
Butterfield was asked to speak at a House subcommittee chaired by Rep Ortiz, Tx. Everything boiled down, Butterfied requested language that stipulates the Navy has to have local support. Some will say that language may never get put into any kind of legislation, but I see it as a huge paradigm shift.
Senator Hagen is coming to Camden County Friday to have a round table discussion on the OLF. Her stance is she has always been against it, words to that effect.
What I am seeing is the only way this OLF is going to be built in NC is if the Navy (part of the executive branch) decides to cram it down our throats. I do not see that happening either.
Back to Perdue, her stance of if the people desire it supports folks like Havelock (Cherry Point) who may want to increase or strengthen the role and responsibility their community has with the partnership developed over the years. I really do not have a problem with that so long as the negatives are in the same community as the positives. I think all the politicians realize that to increase the revenue stream at a Navy air facility in NC, an OLF is required. The local economy that is going to benefit from that infusion must also shoulder the burden of an OLF.
At this point, every politician or political board in NE NC is opposed to this OLF being built in a community that does not wish for it to be in their community.
I am pleased the Basnight and Owens are looking at, and weighing the proposed legislation to see if there still are some holes the Navy (or any other Federal agency may wiggle in) might try to exploit.
If the Navy would just work with the communities. Butterfield's language request for the House subcommittee supports what a lot in the region have been saying. The Navy is not talking with, or trying to work with the local community. The Navy is not in informational role. The Navy feels that economic incentives are what the region is holding out for, that the folks are waiting for the Navy to sweeten the pot just a bit more.
If they would have heard our Reps Saturday, the Navy would know beyond a doubt that no incentive the Navy could offer (read carrot on a stick) will get the region to accept this OLF. It is terrible for the community.
One of the first speakers was, I think, a County commissioner and she questioned those that want to question the patriotism of us that are opposing this OLF. Their are a few in the region who will only use that. "what do you want, the sound of our jets over head, or the sound of terrorists planes dropping bombs on us?" I just throw my hands up sometimes, but I know I am supporting my pilots by being a thorn in the side of the Navy. This way the Navy must address the problem, vice gloss the problem. She explained that she has family "over there" now, and she is opposed to this OLF. Glad she did that first thing!
With so many in opposition on the political front, it seems impossible that any other Rep would say, "put the OLF in NE NC." W. Jones, Butterfield, Hagen, Burr, Perdue, State reps Mobley, Owens, Jones and Basnight in opposition to it. The counties directly impacted, Camden, Gates, Pasquotank, Currituck have resolutions saying NO OLF. The other counties have similar resolutions saying NO OLF. They are all saying the same thing, "no local support, no support from us!" From my limited understanding of the House and Senate, it would be an unprecedented thing for the house or senate to support the Navy's decision to put this OLF in NC over the objections of the representatives directly impacted.
Washington County needed the ducks and geese to slow the train down so the appropriate folks could see the train wreck about to happen. Reps, like Price, had a huge hand in pulling the funding. Funding is being brought up again as a potential for no support.
I just cannot fathom why the Navy is insistant on continuing this OLF process in the face of such opposition. Even the Navy has stated that Oceana is terrible.
The only thing I can think of as to why the Navy is pushing forward with this OLF is they realize that if they have to find a new MJB they are going to have a problem. The Navy does not want to engage the public in that. For one, the requirements for what a MJB will come out. It will be shown that what many in NE NC have been questioning about the Navy's story was true, that the Navy has been fabricating false requirements in an attempt to force this OLF on someone. There never was a need. When the Navy finally does accept they need to find a new MJB, it will require just one OLF, not two.
Looks like Rep Owens is moving forward
Daily Advance
Got through the first reading, I guess that is a good thing? Sure hope so!