Don Volaric, the leading Republican candidate challenging Democratic Rep. Sander Levin in the new 9th District, has issued a scathing statement criticizing the Levin brothers for the Pentagon’s decision to replace 24 small aircraft at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township with four large tanker planes.
Sandy Levin has had no visible role in any of this, though his brother, Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was criticized earlier this week by GOP Rep. Candice Miller of Harrison Township.
But Sandy is certainly no stranger to Republican knocks that are aimed collectively at the Levin brothers. Nonetheless, Democrats familiar with Sandy’s work on defense issues may be outraged at Volaric’s blast.
Here’s Volaric’s statement:
“Carl Levin and his brother, Sander Levin, have a big part in selling out
America and Michiganders.
“Once again, the Levin brothers are missing in action when it comes to the
livelihood of Michiganders … especially in Sander Levin’s district.
“The plan of removing all (24) A-10 (aircraft) from the 127th Wing at Selfridge in
Harrison Township, (about 650 personnel are attached to the A-10s)
replacing them with four additional KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft, which
would strengthen the base’s mission in that area, is an outrage and a huge job killer.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. Sander Levin has no clue how important
the Department of Defense is to jobs here in Southeast Michigan, especially
Macomb and Oakland County. Leon Panetta … cuts ground
forces and armor big time. The 1 percent federal cuts, with 50 percet from the
Department of Defense to a tune of $487 billion over 10 years, will be
catastrophic to jobs in Macomb and Oakland County. Oakland and Macomb
(employ) around 17,500 alone. Michigan supports 80 percent of the
DOD’s Ground & Armor division (approximately $14.5 billion annually).
“Where is the outrage from our representation on the federal level?
Candice Miller gets big props for voicing her opinion. Thank You Candice!”
We must vote for change in the new 9th District. You can't keep doing the same thing over and overand expect different results
Don Volaric needs to go back and retake his Government class in high school before he files to run for congress. Sandy Levin had nothing to do with this recommendation. It was the White House and the DOD.
Also, a Republican demanding the federal government prop up a local economy with unnecessary government jobs? That sounds like Socialism. You have to love the hypocrisy of both Volaric and Miller. They want socialism when it benefits them but not when it benefits the greater good.
Mr. Dilbert, This federal action will hit Sandy Levins district big time. Hello can you say JOBS. The # 1 job of the federal Government is to protect the homeland. Not kill jobs. You need to go back to high school & learn the Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights & the Amendments (The Constitution of the United States)
The facts: Leon Panetta (1/26) cuts Ground Force & Armor Big Time.
487 Billion on top of the 1% cuts with 50% from the Department of Defense (600 Billion) over a Trillion in cuts coming in 2013 over 10 years. This will be Catastrophic to Jobs here in Michigan. Michigan Supports 80% of our ground & armored forces.