Joint Base could be impacted by veto threat to Defense spending bill

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst could be impacted if President Barack Obama follows through on a threat to veto the National Defense Authorization Act, which has received bi-partisan support from both Houses. 

Obama's request for $612 billion was granted, just not in the form he asked for it, according to Third District Congressman Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., who said Obama wants more money for Domestic programs.

"To me that is really unprecedented. No President has ever used the defense budget to get what he wants domestically, and he may want important things and I'm happy to debate those things, I'm sure all of Congress is, but right now the order of the day is to pass a defense budget that protects our troops, it gives the military what they need, and part of that is our Joint Base," said MacArthur.

The spending bill includes things that prevent base closures, a plan to combat Iran's influence in the Middle East, funding for the Israeli Missile Defense, a new retirement plan for troops and a long overdue pay raise, according to MacArthur.

MacArthur pointed out the Joint Base is unique in the United States.

"It's the only Tri-Service Joint Base. There are 80 mission partners there, including the KC-10 tankers. There's only two bases in the entire country that support the air to air refueling mission of the KC-10," MacArthur said. He added, "That mission is what allows our planes to stay in the air and project American power abroad, and so to me it's really essential that this defense bill go forward."

MacArthur explained Obama wants the Budget Control Act caps on domestic spending lifting, which he said has nothing to do with the defense budget. MacArthur noted he doesn't think the Budget Control Act makes sense and thinks it should be lifted.

"I think it's a bad way to budget. It take a meat axe to the Federal Government and just makes across the board cuts that don't reflect any kind of strategy or vision, and I think that's a bad way to budget," said MacArthur.

MacArthur pointed out when the Defense Department can't plan or know how long its funding is going to last. "It clearly translates into more risk for our troops," he said.

MacArthur noted overriding a Presidential veto on this issue would be an uphill battle.