President Barack Obama has proposed reducing construction of Fast Response Cutters, built in Lockport, from six to two in the next fiscal year
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., says for years presidents of both political parties have shortchanged the Coast Guard. And that includes President Barack Obama's budget for 2013, Landrieu said at a hearing last week of her Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
Clik here to view.
President Barack Obama has proposed reducing construction of Fast Response Cutters from six to two in the next fiscal year. Those vessels are built at Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport. She said the spending plan would cut 1,000 Coast Guard officers and reduce construction spending by $200 million. Landrieu said one major concern for her is the president's budget proposal to reduce construction of Fast Response Cutters from six to two in the next fiscal year. Those vessels are built at Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport.
"I understand that difficult trade-offs need to be made in this particularly tight budget climate," Landrieu said during the subcommittee hearing. "But I believe the top line given to the Coast Guard in the president's budget is just not adequate."
Bruce Alpert can be reached at balpert@timespicayune.com or 202.450.1406. Jonathan Tilove can be reached at jtilove@timespicayune.com or 202.450.1404.
