Bilbray recuses himself from base closures

Suzanne Struglinski

Friday, May 20, 2005 | 9:23 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Former Nevada congressman Jim Bilbray recused himself from working on issues related to military installations in Nevada during his time on the commission that evaluates base closings.

Bilbray, a Democrat, and three other members of the commission announced their decisions at a commission meeting Thursday.

A commission spokesman said they made the decision to recuse themselves on their own.

Former Rep. James Hansen, a Republican from Utah, recused himself from dealing with installations in his state, retired Adm. Harold Gehman decided to not work on any Virginia bases because he had briefly worked as an adviser to Virginia Democratic Gov. Mark Warner, and Phillip Coyle said he would not work on issues related to California because had been an adviser to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to commission.

Under recommended changes handed down by the Pentagon last week, Nellis Air Force Base could gain about 1,400 military and civilian workers under the Pentagon's plan to close and realign military bases while Hawthorne Army Depot in Mineral County is on the list to be closed.

Changes at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport Air Guard Station are expected to affect 263 jobs and the Naval Air Station in Fallon may lose seven people.

Bilbray could not be reached for comment this morning.

The commission will review the Pentagon's list of recommended closings and changes and produce its own list to the president by Sept. 8, under law. The president has until Sept. 23 to accept or reject the recommendations as a whole. If accepted, Congress has 45 days to reject it or it becomes binding.