WVEC: 3 GOP senators to hold defense budget town hall in Norfolk

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Washington, Jul 27, 2012 - Associated Press | WVEC.com
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Half Moone Terminal

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Three Senate Republicans are coming to Hampton Roads next week as part of a tour of presidential battleground states to warn about looming cuts in defense spending.

John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte will hold a town hall meeting Monday, July 30 at 5:00 p.m. at Half Moone Terminal on Waterside Drive in downtown Norfolk. Rep. Scott Rigell (R-2nd District) will be there as well.

The meetings in Tampa, Florida, Fayetteville, North Carolina and Merrimack, New Hampshire on July 30 and 31 will focus on cuts of nearly $500 billion to projected spending over a decade, set to begin Jan. 2 unless Congress finds an alternative.

The states are home to military installations and defense contracting jobs.

"These communities – which provide our troops the equipment and support they need to defend our country – will bear the brunt of the defense sequestration cuts. Their voices must be heard in Washington,” Sen. Graham said in a news release.

The three senators are on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

Announcement of the tour comes as Defense Secretary Leon Panetta issued a fresh warning Wednesday about the reductions, saying he "sure as hell" hopes they don't happen.

President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans agreed to set up the cuts last year as part of a deficit-reduction plan.

http://www.wvec.com/news/military/3-GOP-senators-to-hold-defense-budget-town-hall-in-Norfolk-164006656.html