Lawmakers Must Shield State’s Defense Jobs

* The Times is a welcome advocate for retaining California’s military flight testing capability at Edwards Air Force Base. The real story is the continuing problem of California’s legislative delegation NOT acting as a voting block to create new jobs.

Contrary to election-year rhetoric, California remains vulnerable to the integrated and united lobbying efforts of other states and special interest groups that are robbing California leaders and business of urgently needed assistance. Political and ideological egos must take a back seat to stop our manufacturing hemorrhage. If we want to save Edwards, we need to save military programs; if we want to convert defense manufacturing jobs to commercial applications, we have to save military programs long enough to convert; if we are committed to a market-driven, world-class manufacturing environment, we need creative job-creating legislation.

The time has come for our legislators and media organizations to take off their white gloves and fight to save this critical economic force. The issue at Edwards Air Force Base just reinforces the fact that service jobs depend on manufacturing jobs. Forget putting their heads together, circle the damn wagons and protect our defense and manufacturing jobs.

DAVID GOODREAU

Glendale

Goodreau is chairman of the California Industrial Leadership Council .