S.C.’s Sen. Graham says he’s OK with more BRAC

TIMES WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department’s proposal to close military bases may not be popular on Capitol Hill — but at least one senator endorsed the idea today.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta that he agrees the Pentagon should cut the military’s base structure, as well as trim defense spending overall. That makes him a bit of a loner among Republican lawmakers, who have generally blasted the Obama administration’s request to slash defense spending.

“Count me in,” Mr. Graham said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Defense Department’s budget request for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

“I don’t see DoD as a job creator for America,” Mr. Graham said.

The Defense Department is asking for base closure rounds in 2013 and 2015, which officials say is needed in light of proposed cuts in force structure. The most recent round was in 2005, although it has taken several years to complete.

Mr. Graham said he is unsure whether he supports the overall cut of $487 billion the Defense Department estimates over a decade but that he is willing to discuss a figure that would be “something robust.”

The committee’s chairman, Sen. Carl M. Levin, D-Mich., said the department should focus on overseas basing, which doesn’t require the base realignment and closure process, before embarking on BRAC. And Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., said she doubts the long-term savings projections.