Congressmen Hang Back on El Toro Closure

Despite Orange County’s reputation for conservative and hawkish politics, none of the county’s six congressmen has rushed to condemn the White House plan for closing the county’s largest military facility.

Some county leaders said Thursday that they are surprised at the delegation’s lack of outrage over plans to close the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. But congressional officials responded that they do not want to make a knee-jerk decision that might appear parochial.

Instead, when the White House releases its list of targeted bases and supporting data today, the members of the delegation expect to analyze the information and argue their case on the merits of economic and national security issues.

“I am unwilling to be reflexively pro-pork,” said Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach), whose district includes the Marine base. “My analysis will proceed first and foremost on the national security level.”

Five of the six congressmen who represent parts of Orange County have not yet taken a position on whether El Toro should be closed, their offices reported Thursday. An aide to Rep. Jay C. Kim (R-Diamond Bar), whose district includes Yorba Linda, said he is opposed to closing any military base in California and has no special priority for El Toro.

But some top county officials said Thursday that they are concerned because, nearly a week after reports that the White House might target the El Toro base, there has not been an outcry of opposition from Orange County. And without a swift and loud complaint, some said they feared El Toro might lose the battle for priorities.

“I am absolutely stunned. I anticipated the congressional delegation would be joining us,” said Supervisor Thomas F. Riley, a Republican who voted in the county board’s unanimous decision Tuesday to oppose the base closure. “I would have expected to see 10 feet of snow in south Orange County before I’d see (Garden Grove Rep. Robert K.) Dornan be so quiet about anything. I really cannot believe this.”

Orange County stands to lose as much as $400 million yearly that the base generates for the local economy, as well as the patriotic pride of hosting the Marine Corps’ 3rd Aircraft Wing, a unit decorated in the Persian Gulf War.

But politically, the issue has forced conservative Republicans to make a tough choice between military bravado and fiscal conservatism. The behavior of Orange County’s representatives may be an example of the new realities forced by President Clinton’s emphasis on domestic issues.

Republican congressmen have urged their colleagues who may want to oppose the closing of a military base not to make arguments based on local economic impact. Instead, they said, arguments should be aimed at the national security value and the base’s cost-effectiveness for the federal budget.

“At a time of defense cutbacks, we owe it to America and those who defend her to put those limited defense dollars to best use,” Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) wrote to his colleagues in the California delegation Wednesday. “I would ask that you help preserve the integrity of the base-closing process and oppose efforts to turn it into a contest about whose economic conditions are worse.”

Cox said he agreed. He added, however, that he believes that a strong argument can be made to save El Toro because of its national security value. After hearing the Administration’s plan today, he expects to respond with a counter argument.

“Make no mistake about this, the Clinton Administration is planning to close El Toro,” he said. “We can only hope to succeed if we do this on the merits rather than on parochial economic interest.”

The politics of the base-closing plan has jumbled partisan lines like few other issues in California.

Some of the state’s most liberal Democrats--such as Rep. Ronald V. Dellums (D-Oakland) and Sen. Barbara Boxer--have led the opposition to White House plans to close nine military bases in California.

In Orange County, the only Democrat in state or federal office has been the county’s most outspoken opponent of closing El Toro.

Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) was in Washington this week, where he lobbied the Administration to drop El Toro from its list. He said he made his case to members of Congress, the Senate and the Defense Department. He also mentioned the issue during a brief meeting with President Clinton.

In contrast to the county’s Republicans, Umberg also said Thursday that the impact on the local economy should be a major factor in deciding whether to close El Toro.

“Quite frankly, when Orange County is in a recession and California is in a recession, taking into account the economic impact is a valid consideration,” said Umberg, a former Army captain and currently a major in the Army reserve. “The economic realities posed by a base closure are not to be ignored.”