Ryan speaks out against military cuts
Republican Paul Ryan says Mitt Romney will prevent planned cuts to the U.S. military if elected president.
The GOP vice presidential hopeful spoke to supporters Aug. 23 in Fayetteville, N.C., home to the Fort Bragg Army base and a large number of military families.
Ryan warned of the cuts to military spending outlined in sequestration, a series of automatic, across-the-board cuts that will take effect if Congress doesn’t reach a budget solution in the next few months. Half of the cuts are set to come from the Pentagon.
As a Wisconsin congressman and chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan voted for budget control legislation that included sequestration. He spoke favorably about the agreement on the House floor.
Ryan has since voted for legislation to block the cuts. AP
Virginia shipbuilder opening new submarine facility
Newport News Shipbuilding is opening a new facility to accommodate the building of Virginia-class submarines.
Officials Aug. 27 held the grand opening of the Supplemental Module Outfitting Facility.
The shipbuilder says it made a $100 million investment to help meet the submarine program’s two-submarines-per-year build plan.
Newport News Shipbuilding is producing the submarines as part of a team with General Dynamics Electric Boat as part of the Navy’s plans to add to its nuclear-powered submarine fleet. The team has delivered the first nine boats of the class.
The attack submarines use advanced technologies to increase firepower, maneuverability and stealth. The 377-feet long submarines are capable of submerged speeds of more than 25 knots and can stay submerged for up to three months at a time. AP
Two contractors plead not guilty to Navy bribery
Two defense contractors have pleaded not guilty to bribing officials at a San Diego Navy base in exchange for millions of dollars in business.
U-T San Diego says Robert Ehnow of Coronado and Joanne Loehr of La Jolla entered the pleas Thursday in federal court to conspiracy, money laundering, bribery and wire fraud.
Prosecutors claim they gave officials at Naval Air Station North Island more than $1 million in cash and gifts, including flat screen TVs. Authorities say in return, their Poway companies received $4 million in defense business.
Authorities claim the contractors also submitted phony bills to the Defense Department that covered the cost of the bribes.
Seven other people, including four Navy officials from North Island, pleaded guilty to bribery charges in March. They await sentencing. AP
