■ 14 December 2011 | 10:18 PM
Mayport money in 2012 budget
Mayport Money in 2012 budget
Yesterday the Defense Authorization Conference Report was concluded and the $14.9 million for the next planed phase of a CVN move to Mayport was included. The Pilot stated that the road project was not part of the carrier effort. “House and senate negotiators stated in their report that the Mayport Naval Station project has merit regardless of whether a carrier is homeported there”. The Florida delegation (Crenshaw, Nelson, Rubio) put a different ‘Spin’ on the report. Crenshaw “The House and Senate agreement is another win for Mayport and means military construction projects needed to homeport a nuclear carrier at the base will keep moving forward”. Nelson “Despite repeated attempts by some lawmakers to block improvements needed to bring a nuclear carrier to Mayport, we’re still on track”.
The $14.9 is for P503 road improvement project which has been a part of the CVN move project. The project was needed to support P502, $30,933 parking garage which is needed when the Controlled Industrial/Ship Maintenance/Support Facility is to be constructed in the present major parking lot. This is the plan that the Navy briefed last year, not sure it has changed, but after visiting Mayport I wonder if a road is a high priority project. If the CVN does not go to Mayport (in 2019), there will only be 8 ships assigned by 2016, congress needs to be on the same page. The CNO is presently evaluating the CVN move, before any more money is spent at Mayport it would be better to wait for the Navy study to be complete.
The same bill permitted fee increases for Tricare fees, wouldn’t it be better to put Mayport money towards the Tricare account, take care of the troops and their families??
COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
I also spent some time in mayport and their commute is
just as terrible as Norfolks. The only difference is they have one main road. They have been pushing for a road for years to help them with problems. While some may see it as spin, others will see it as required. Mayport could see all the work done on 564 into Norfolk as spin, but we see it as required, and rightfully so.
What there congressman does with their projects and pork is for FL to worry about. So what if they spin it. In the end, the carrier has to have a home. Norfolk or Mayport, not that big a deal.
Guess its ok if VA politicans spin, but its not ok for FL politicans to spin? Same can be said for the OLF. That is a spin project that got way out of control. Thats why the Secretary took 3 years off. To cool down HIS spin.