Senator: Economy not yet in recession
Staff Writer
Thursday, March 27, 2008
WEEKSVILLE — U.S. Sen. Richard Burr on Wednesday reiterated his support for area counties opposed to a Navy jet training field in eastern North Carolina.
But North Carolina's junior U.S. senator also said there is nothing he or fellow North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole can do to remove sites in Camden and Gates counties from the Navy's shortlist of possible locations for the airfield.
"I've said from the beginning that I couldn't support any location the community is not supportive of," Burr, R-N.C., said during a visit in Pasquotank County. "The current locations were not based on recommendations of Sen. Dole or myself. We don't have the ability to remove locations from consideration."
The U.S. Navy announced late last year that two sites in North Carolina, one in Camden, the other in Gates, will be included in its study of five possible locations for the airfield, also known as an outlying landing field.
Burr, who toured the TCOM facility in Weeksville, also discussed the nation's struggling economy during his visit. He acknowledged that the economic slowdown is a key concern of constituents, noting that it probably ranks higher now than the war in Iraq. But he believes the situation still doesn't match the classic definition of a recession.
"We have not reached that threshold, which is two down quarters," he said. "But if you haven't got a job and you want one, it doesn't matter what you call it."
Burr said the keys to improving the country's economic outlook are promoting job creation and financial stability. While he was one of 81 senators to vote in favor of an economic stimulus package, he was dismissive of the impact tax rebates could have in bolstering the economy.
"I don't believe it will help significantly, but I certainly didn't feel it would do any harm," he said.
Burr said the 10-day nationwide sales tax holiday which he proposed would have done more to stimulate spending. However, the measure was not taken up by the Senate.
An early supporter of Sen. John McCain's presidential bid, Burr said more and more people have begun to rally behind him.
"Many believe he's the right man at the right time," he said.
Were he in McCain's shoes, Burr said he would not be worried about going up against either of the presumptive Democratic Party nominees for president, Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. Hillary Clinton. He said the ideological gap between either Democratic candidate and McCain is probably the largest he will see in his lifetime.
"I probably wouldn't be concerned by either because there's so little difference between what the two have proposed," he said.
While Burr's name has come up in media as a potential running mate for McCain, he dismissed any vice presidential speculation as premature.
"For those of us who know Sen. McCain well, we know the number one qualification he will look for is somebody the American people feel confident could be president on day two if something happens to Sen. McCain on day one," Burr said.
While Burr said neither he nor Dole can get the Navy to remove the locations from its list, he said they will be able to express their lack of support in future proceedings for the OLF.
In the meantime, he said responsibility for the sites being considered rests with Gov. Mike Easley.
"He has to drop this one right on his shoulders," Burr said.
Burr was touring the TCOM facility because a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant recently helped finance the company's multimillion-dollar expansion. The company plans to double the size of its work force with the extra hangar space.
He also had visits scheduled in Winfall and Edenton.
Comments
By NCguy
Mar 27, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this
The Navy claims 50 - 60 new jobs and that might grow. To what, no one knows. They claim that a gate guard will be paid $52,000/year and every other job will be in the $50,000 to $55,000 range.
If these jobs are part of the federal government, then this job will first be made available to all the people already employed in the system. They will get first crack. Hummm, I am a gate guard getting much less then $50,000 a year and have to drive from Deep Creek or Northern Camden County to NOB. I can either keep fighting the traffic or I can get a pay raise and work at this OLF. That guy is going to get the job first. How many electronics techs or air traffic controllers are in the county? need 5 of each. $50,000/year. Fire fighters? Everyone gets basically the same amount. So their finical figures are to be questioned.
Noise? Yes these planes are noisy. These planes are extremely noisy and the plane that is about to be introduced to the Navy, the Joint Strike Fighter is just as noisy or louder. If you enjoy sleeping at night with your windows up and are between Oceana and this OLF, figure on sleeping with your windows closed. The Navy stated that if Perquimans County was selected, the planes would not get above 7,000 ft.
The Navy also had the flight path for going to Perquimans or Bertie county going between Shawbaro and Indiantown before turning West. Do not see why something similar to that will not happen if Gates county gets selected. The Navy does not have to take the shortest or direct route. Yall did not know that? If if going to Washington County, Shawboro to Indiantown was the turning point. SEIS study showed that.
When you review the old EIS, the Navy intended to send only the Super Hornets to NC. The noise contour for the super hornet with only 32,000 operations had a noise foot print as big or bigger then the foot print a facility having 50,000+ operations generated. Granted a bunch of those Fentress flights are the E-2/C-2 and they are quite.
Noise is also subjective. If you understand and accept why the noise is their, you will not be bothered as much by it.
In NC, the Navy has stated this OLF is not required meaning the noise these planes will generate should not be here in the first place. The noise will be in the community because of the mismanagement of Virginia and the Navy.
There are some folks who live right next to Fentress and they are not bothered. They say they knew there was an airfield there and will live with their choice.
Camden and Gates County are on a list to host an OLF. They were not asked, informed, nothing. In fact, the only quantitative study performed on Gates or Camden county for an OLF shows these two sites would not meet the Navy needs as far back as May 2003.
So, yes, to many things do not add up to Camden or Gates County being on any list.
Gov Easley, and the rest of our representatives should be asking why does a community in NC have to be on any list? There is no benefit to anyone for a second OLF other then for the people of Virginia. The pilots are still getting qualified to go fly aboard the ships. The Navy has the facilities to perform this vital function. They do not need Camden or Gates County...They may want it, but they do not need it.
By JD
Mar 27, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
If a small airport brought in so much money then Currituck would be swimming in airport money. Take a drive to Maple and then go to the courthouse and see if it brings in money or costs money. I think your romance with small airports will quickly fade...........
By JSM
Mar 27, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
As a matter of fact, I do like jet noise. I was in the Marine Corps for five years, and stationed at an airstation all five years. Freedom isn't free, do we not get that?
By JSM
Mar 27, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this
As a matter of fact, I do love jet noise. I was in the Marine Corps for five years and stationed at an airstation for all five. Freedom isn't free people, do we not get that?
By JSM
Mar 27, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
As a matter of fact, I do love jet noise. I was in the Marine Corps for five years and stationed at an airstation for all five. Freedom isn't free people, do we not get that?
By Robin
Mar 27, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
This is in response to KW. It is very nice that you and your husband sat and watched a video together BUT what you watched has nothing what so ever in common with the Navy and the proposed OLF. Yes, a small airport or landing field may bring some financial gain to Camden County but it would NEVER bring in the millions that you suggest. The Navy OLF will bring ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to Camden but NOISE! There will be a few high paying jobs compared to the average salary of the local citizens but that is all. There is no gaurantee that any of those jobs will be offered to locals. They will more than likely be persons already in the employ of the Navy and they will commute from their homes in Virginia. If not, they will re-locate and be be more of a burden on the county's infrastructure. The county won't get any taxes from the OLF and you or any other private pilot sure as hell aren't going to be able to use it! This a multi-million project but not one penny of all that money will go to Camden. We will not reap any benefits from an OLF. We will LOSE money. A few deer, you say. Generate enormous amounts of income and give our children jobs. Wake up, lady! All you're going to get from this in no sleep and lower property values. You make the statment that you don't understand why the people would support a landfill but not the OLF. Well, at least the landfill would have generated some income (millions) for the county not take taxed property off the tax books. Yes, living near the Coast Guard base doesn't seem to bother the folks near there but remember that the Coast Guard stops flying at dark unless there is a search and rescue. Those nice folks near the base get to settle down each night and eat a peaceful supper, watch their favorite TV shows and get a good night's sleep. All that is something you won't be able to do if the OLF goes in your backyard. Oh, if JSM loves the sounds of jet planes so much I'm certain they can sell out here and buy a place really close to Fentress or Oceana. And I guess the fact that the Navy has been caught in so many lies to justify a second OLF doesn't really bother you, huh? Maybe if you spent a little more time getting the facts all this wouldn't be so confusing ot you.
By Robin
Mar 27, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
This is in response to KW. It is very nice that you and your husband sat and watched a video together BUT what you watched has nothing what so ever in common with the Navy and the proposed OLF. Yes, a small airport or landing field may bring some financial gain to Camden County but it would NEVER bring in the millions that you suggest. The Navy OLF will bring ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to Camden but NOISE! There will be a few high paying jobs compared to the average salary of the local citizens but that is all. There is no gaurantee that any of those jobs will be offered to locals. They will more than likely be persons already in the employ of the Navy and they will commute from their homes in Virginia. If not, they will re-locate and be be more of a burden on the county's infrastructure. The county won't get any taxes from the OLF and you or any other private pilot sure as hell aren't going to be able to use it! This a multi-million project but not one penny of all that money will go to Camden. We will not reap any benefits from an OLF. We will LOSE money. A few deer, you say. Generate enormous amounts of income and give our children jobs. Wake up, lady! All you're going to get from this in no sleep and lower property values. You make the statment that you don't understand why the people would support a landfill but not the OLF. Well, at least the landfill would have generated some income (millions) for the county not take taxed property off the tax books. Yes, living near the Coast Guard base doesn't seem to bother the folks near there but remember that the Coast Guard stops flying at dark unless there is a search and rescue. Those nice folks near the base get to settle down each night and eat a peaceful supper, watch their favorite TV shows and get a good night's sleep. All that is something you won't be able to do if the OLF goes in your backyard. Oh, if JSM loves the sounds of jet planes so much I'm certain they can sell out here and buy a place really close to Fentress or Oceana. And I guess the fact that the Navy has been caught in so many lies to justify a second OLF doesn't really bother you, huh? Maybe if you spent a little more time getting the facts all this wouldn't be so confusing ot you.
By JSM
Mar 27, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
Amen KW!
By JSM
Mar 27, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
Amen KW!
By KW
Mar 27, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
I watched a video about the romance of flying that my husband and I ordered from NetFlix. I had some concerns about the jet noise, although I love jets, and yes, there are questions, but the one thing that stands out about this is the money that small airports and aircraft generate for the communities that surround them. The narrators in this particular video suggested that the pilots talk to the communites, not the governing bodies that control the pending projects, but the actual men and women who fly in and out and who fly over the homes daily. My biggest question also, off the subject, is why was there so much support for a MASSIVE garbage dump, with loads of trash, emmisions, noise, road use etc etc etc in Camden County and yet no support what so ever for a MULTI-MILLION Dollar landing strip, which may displace a few deer, and will create an enormous amount of income for Camden County, plus jobs of the future for our children and for us? It isn't a question of noise or land use right? Please tell me there are actually real reasons for trying to shut your eyes and ears before even understanding what it is that can possibly be for this County that we reside in. On the other hand though, if all you want is higher property taxes as gas prices continue to rise, so the schools and public utilities of this County can thrive, then, well, keep being negative, post your signs, and continue to gripe at the Tax Office about your taxes. Seems like everyone who lives near the Coast Guard base is doing just fine to me.
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