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Jenkins visits 139th Airlift Wing

10/22/14

By Ken Newton | St. Joseph News-Press

A state boundary drawn long ago separates the district of Kansas Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins from the Missouri Air National Guard base at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph.

But the issues of military readiness and Missouri River levee protection span the border, and Ms. Jenkins paid a visit to the 139th Airlift Wing Tuesday to discuss both subjects.

Her district, which includes Northeast Kansas, takes in Fort Leavenworth and other military installations, so the lawmaker has a working knowledge of concerns in the armed forces.

The trip to Rosecrans, though, put her in touch with Air Guard officials who have their own duties and goals.

“If they’re successful here, we’re going to reap the benefits,” the Republican representative said. “Number one, I’ll sleep better at night, as most Americans will, knowing that the Guard is strong and protecting us.”

The Air Guard base proves a significant local employer, with roughly $60 million in annual salaries and benefits included in an overall economic impact of about $144 million. For that reason, civic officials from St. Joseph and Buchanan County, plus mayors for nearby Kansas towns, showed up for the congresswoman’s visit.

“They’ve got some concerns about sequestration, and we would like to be helpful there,” Ms. Jenkins said. “We need to see a stronger military in the nation right now.”

What happens with future sequestration of military funding might ride on the outcome of the elections two weeks hence. The U.S. House, in which Ms. Jenkins serves as vice chair of the Republican Conference, has GOP control, and some national observers forecast the Senate will fall from Democratic control.

If so, the congressional time spent between the election and year’s end will be “a very lame, lame-duck (session),” Ms. Jenkins said.

“In January,” she continued, “if Republicans do pick up the Senate, there’s going to be a renewed interest in making additional investments in our national security.”

The lawmaker and the officials spent time talking about the need for strengthened levees along the Missouri River. During the 1993 flood, the Air Guard base stood under water, and each period of high water raises that threat.

 

“We call on the congresswoman’s office ... when we’re in D.C., so we feel like we’re all part of the team,” said Steve Johnston, director of the St. Joseph Community Alliance. “That effort will hopefully reap benefits for us in the future.”