House pushes Navy to buy more ships in 2006

[The Straight Story]

House pushes Navy to buy more ships in 2006

By Megan Scully, CongressDaily
Amid mounting concerns that the domestic shipbuilding industry is taking heavy hits, House authorizers and appropriators have dramatically increased the Navy's ship buys for next year, helping to feed a sector that is becoming more anemic just as China pours billions into its fleet.

The decision reflects a growing consensus in the powerful shipbuilding industry and on Capitol Hill that the Navy lacks a thorough and consistent plan for its future fleet.

The Pentagon's fiscal 2006 request sought four new ships, a drop from double-digit procurement two decades ago.

House appropriators increased buys to eight ships, while House authorizers set aside money for seven. The Senate Armed Services Committee authorized four ships, but added money to accelerate development of the next aircraft carrier, amphibious assault ship and the next-generation destroyer. Senate appropriators have not marked up their version of the bill.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0605/062205cdam1.htm

[leveymg]

1. Another snout pushes into the trough.

"helping to feed a sector that is becoming more anemic just as China pours billions into its fleet." Billions of yuan ain't billions of bucks.

If China is such a threat, would you trade our navy for theirs?
:bounce:

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Wow - Congress throwing money at the military

Corporate welfare on a huge scale - the Navy doesn't want the ships, but the builders want to build them, so Congress just says "yes, take this taxpayers' money (well, their children's, anyway) - I'm sure they weren't going to do anything with it".

[Nikki Stone 1]

3. ANd notice, the Navy isn't saying "Oh, no. We don't need it."

Somehow, I don't think the Navy needs to be pushed to build anything. The headline is deceptive.