House bill quashes military privatization

[Robbien]

WEST POINT — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a critical piece of legislation on Thursday to preserve more than 500 federal jobs at the U.S. Military Academy.

The 2010 Defense Appropriations bill includes a provision that essentially kills the results of a federal efficiency study that planned to privatize West Point's department of public works, outsourcing the positions to a firm from Georgia. The new defense bill thwarts the study by cutting off funding for its implementation.

. . .

The defense bill not only undermines the privatization plans for West Point, but also applies to similar studies conducted across the country. Nearly 6,000 jobs were in play nationwide, Hinchey said.

"This is a huge weight off my shoulders," said Don Hale, local union president for West Point's federal workers. But even with House support, "it's not a done deal yet."

The focus shifts next to the Senate, which expects to vote on its version of the defense spending bill in September.

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090731/NEWS/907310353/-1/SITEMAP


So the defense budget submitted by the WH would have privatized 6,000 more military jobs. Good to see that the House is trying to squash that. Not holding my breath that the Senate will go along with the House.

[pleah]

1. K&R

[troubledamerican]

2. De-contract Halliburton, Blackwater XE, Titan, CACI, and all the other private military

parasites, then you can truly claim you're fighting privatization of the military.

Until then, this is window dressing.