The Bulletin: "Williams Warns of Defense Cuts"

Press Release

The Bulletin: "Williams Warns Of Defense Cuts"

By Chris Freind, The Bulletin

Responding to comments by House Financial Services Committee Chair Barney Frank, D-Mass., calling for a 25-percent cut in military spending, 7th Congressional District GOP candidate Craig Williams issued a warning that such an action could result in thousands of job losses. Mr. Williams, a decorated Marine combat pilot, was particularly concerned about union jobs at Boeing being eliminated if the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor program was slated to be cut.

Sen. Barack Obama echoed Mr. Frank's sentiment, stating, "I will slow our development of future combat systems." In his remarks to a lobbying organization that advocates the elimination of the Osprey program, Mr. Obama said that the "Osprey is a poster child" of a "big-ticket weapon system" that he would review for possible cancellation.

Defense-related companies are one of the region's largest employers, with industry leaders Boeing, Lockheed-Martin and Alloy Surfaces employing more than 10,000 workers in the 7th District.

"The Democrats have the wrong approach for a number of reasons," Mr. Williams said. "First, their planned cuts will compromise our national security and our ability to defend democracy and freedom throughout the world. Second, the Democrats' proposals will devastate the local industrial base, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs for working families in the Delaware Valley."

In explaining why he believes investing in defense is so critical, Mr. Williams said, "We are investing in our national security and in our working men and women. Democrats want to cut the tangible projects that result in manufacturing jobs - in order to fund more handouts. That is bad public policy and it will hurt our economy."

Mr. Williams then took issue with his opponent, freshman incumbent U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, a former Navy vice admiral. "Congressman Sestak may talk a good game on these issues, but in reality he has voted with Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership in Congress 97 percent of the time," he said. "Joe Sestak has shown no independence from the leadership of his party and given that record, I have no confidence that he will do so in the future."

He said that he would oppose the proposed cuts if elected. Calls to Mr. Sestak's office had not been returned by press time.

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