BRAC chairman agrees with Thune

Earlier I mentioned that John Thune sent a report to BRAC chairman Anthony Principi that stated the savings to come from closing Ellsworth were over estimated. Today, the Chaiman of BRAC agreed:

Advocates for Ellsworth Air Force Base may have a new ally -- the chairman of the Base Closing and Realignment Commission.

As members of the commission prepare to cast their final votes on the Pentagon's list of base closings this week, chairman Anthony Principi indicated he is not convinced Ellsworth Air Force Base should be shuttered.

Principi said in an interview aired on C-SPAN Tuesday that he is concerned the Pentagon overestimated the savings associated with some of the recommendations, and he used Ellsworth as his first example.

"Ellsworth comes to mind," he said.

Principi said that a significant portion of Ellsworth's savings are linked to military personnel, but that many of those personnel will be moved to other bases.

"From our accounting perspective, it is really not a cost savings," he said. "It costs you money to move those B1-B bombers to Dyess."

I say this is huge. And unlike 1995, politics was not involved:

Principi said he understands the political pressure on Thune and other members, but the commission's decisions will be based on "what is best for Ellsworth and our country."

Thune defeated Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., last November after the two debated who would be best able to save Ellsworth. Thune argued that he would have the ear of President Bush.

Principi said the president has stayed out of the process.

"The president has been hands off," said Principi, former secretary of veterans affairs. "No one has called me about that."