The Air Force announced on Wednesday that the Savannah Air National Guard Base was one of its favored locations to house new C-130J military transport planes, along with three other bases located in West Virginia, Texas and Kentucky.
Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee have lambasted a decision by the US Air Force to base new C-130J cargo planes at the Savannah Air National Guard Base in Georgia as ‘politicised' ahead of the state's runoff elections that will determine control of the Senate, writes Defense News.
On 24 November, the Air Force picked four Air National Guard bases to receive 24 C-130J Super Hercules cargo aircraft, including the Georgia location.
Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith, D-Wash., cast doubt on the motives of Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett, an appointee of the Donald Trump administration, for including the state in the list of venues.
After none of the candidates garnered the required 50 percent of the vote in the general election, both of Georgia's Senate races were forced into runoffs.
Democrats would have to win both to wrest the majority from the Republicans, who have commanded a dominating 53-47 presence in the chamber – something that is seen as vital for whoever is president next year.
Senators confirm administration nominees, including the cabinet, and are endowed with the ability to either propel or stall an agenda proposed by the White House.
Ahead of the election on 3 November it…
