Thumb up
When senators from Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois and New York unite to create additional work for Army arsenals in their states, it means bipartisanship that could create jobs at the Pine Bluff Arsenal.
The senators last week introduced the Army Arsenal Strategic Workload Enhancement Act, designed to bring military contracts to the arsenals from the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marine Corps.
“We need to keep Pine Bluff Arsenal healthy,” Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., said Wednesday. We could not have said it better.
The arsenal at White Hall’s doorstep is an asset to maintaining our nation’s strategic industrial capability, noted Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark. A public-private partnership will ensure the only Army base in our state and its employees stands ready to serve our national security.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Pine Bluff Arsenal is the only facility in the Northern Hemisphere where white phosphors munitions are filled. The base also provides a number of services and expertise not readily and quickly available elsewhere.
The legislation would require the Army to create a five-year strategic plan to increase workload at the arsenals and ensure that the arsenals are considered for military contracts across the Department of Defense and not just from the Army.
A companion bill in the House would add a provision to the 2013 Defense Authorization bill directing the Pentagon to identify the critical manufacturing capabilities provided by arsenals and determine the amount of work that is required to maintain them in peacetime.
It is more than just jobs.
As the U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan winds down, the proposed legislation could mean a stronger defense force. In the past we have shelved too many strategic assets when wars have ended, leaving us unprepared for future conflicts.
Forum plans
Thumb down
Normally it would be a thumb up when the Pine Bluff School Board agrees to hold a public forum on its decision to terminate the contract of the district superintendent. We have encouraged such a forum in the past.
The board has ducked, screamed and kicked over the forum issue since mid-March. Now the directors have decided to hold the forum Wednesday from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday is considered a “church night” for many of the district’s patrons.
One hour is inadequate to air and answer the questions we anticipate coming from patrons. The board room at the central office is also inadequate — a crowd of 50 means standing-room-only.
The day of the week, the time allotted and the venue is just another misstep by the board.
Pass the java