Winners in 2005 base closing round celebrate gains

While lawmakers from Connecticut and South Dakota -- both hard hit by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's recommended defense base closures and realignments -- are fighting to keep their bases intact, members from districts that stand to gain from the 2005 BRAC round are busy touting their successes.

Maryland stands to add more jobs than any other state, but unlike other potentially large beneficiaries, those gains are mostly civilian and contractor, rather than military, jobs. The state stands to lose 1,570 military jobs, while adding 9,012 civilian and 1,851 contractor jobs.

Fort Meade, located in the district of Democratic Rep. C.A. (Dutch) Ruppersberger, accounts for more than half of Maryland's potential job gains from this BRAC round. Ruppersberger, along with Democratic Rep. Benjamin Cardin, whose district is home to many Fort Meade employees, met with business leaders from Anne Arundel County soon after the recommendations were announced.

Business leaders expressed concern about the added stress on area infrastructure, especially roads, and said that planning for the influx is key, a spokeswoman for Ruppersberger said.

President Bush's home state of Texas also expects large gains. There, Fort Bliss, located in the district of Democratic Rep. Silvestre Reyes, stands to gain 11,501 jobs -- more than any other base, with the exception of Virginia's Fort Belvoir.

Fort Belvoir is located in the districts of Democratic Rep. James Moran and House Government Reform Chairman Davis, and is slated to gain 11,858 jobs.

In all, 22 states stand to gain from this BRAC round. Nationwide, the recommendations would cut more than 18,000 civilian jobs and nearly 11,000 military jobs, while adding nearly 3,000 contractor positions.

Since contractors shoulder the burden of their employees' benefits, adding those jobs rather than hiring civilians can save the military money.