Governor Richardson proposes military budget cuts

BY GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON IS RAISING A LOT OF EYEBROWS IN NEW MEXICO. DURING HIS PRESIDENTIAL...  More »

BY GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON IS RAISING A LOT OF EYEBROWS IN NEW MEXICO. DURING HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, RICHARDSON SAID IF HE'S ELECTED PRESIDENT-- HE'D SLASH MILITARY SPENDING. ANTOINETTE ANTONIO IS IN THE NEWSROOM WITH HOW NEWS MEXICO'S MILITARY BASES AND NATIONAL LABS WOULD FEEL THE CUTS. THE GOVERNOR SAYS WE'RE NOT FIGHTING THE COLD WAR ANYMORE. HIS PLAN WOULD MEAN BIG CHANGES FOR MILITARY BASES AND NATIONAL LABS IN NEW MEXICO. IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF WAR WE FACE TODAY. THAT'S WHY PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL BILL RICHARDSON WANTS TO MAKE CHANGES TO DEFENSE SPENDING -- CHANGES HE SAYS WOULD FREE UP 57- BILLION DOLLARS. AMONG THE PROPOSED CUTS: CANCELLING PRODUCTION OF THE CV-22 OSPREY -- SAYING IT'S TOO DANGEROUS -- AND THAT ITS SLOW DESCENT MAKES IT AN EASY TARGET FOR THE ENEMY. KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE ALREADY HAS FOUR OF THE OSPREYS... WITH MORE ON THE WAY. RICHARDSON ALSO WANTS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF F- 22'S THE U-S PLANS TO BUY. A FLEET OF THE F- 22 RAPTORS ARE SET TO MOVE IN TO HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE TO REPLACE THE RETIRING F-117 STEALTH FIGHTER JETS. AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST CUTS THAT COULD AFFECT NEW MEXICO WOULD BE ELIMINATING NUCLEAR WARHEAD PROGRAMS -- AND SLASHING THE BUDGET FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS RESEARCH. THAT COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON LOS ALAMOS AND SANDIA NATIONAL LABS. BUT IN A STATEMENT TO EYEWITNESS NEWS 4... A SPOKESPERSON FOR SANDIA SAID 'THOUGH SAFEGUARDING THE NATION'S NUCLEAR STOCKPILE IS AN IMPORTANT MISSION OF SANDIA'S, IT IS NOT OUR ONLY MISSION.... IF THE NEEDS OF THE NATION CHANGE, THEN OUR MISSION WOULD CHANGE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. 'PART OF THE PLAN WOULD ALSO INCLUDE FUNNELING MORE MONEY INTO LOS ALAMOS AND SANDIA NATIONAL LABS TO RESEARCH RENEWABLE ENERGY, TO OFFSET ANY CUTS IN NUCLEAR SPENDING. LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM, AA, EWN4. NEW CHARGES TONIGHT AGAINST AN  « Less