Governors oppose Bush plan allowing federal control over National Guard units during emergencies         

Federal control jeopardizes states' security   

[AUG. 15, 2006]  CHICAGO -- On Monday, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and the nation's 49 other governors called on congressional leaders to block legislation that would allow President Bush to federalize each state's National Guard unit without the consent of that state's governor. President Bush's proposed National Defense Authorization Act would seize governors' authority over the National Guard during emergencies, meaning that the president could unilaterally require National Guard troops to leave one state for another. That would put federal needs ahead of the homeland security and emergency response needs of each individual state, diminishing the ability of each governor to protect his or her constituents.

"When Hurricane Katrina struck last year, I immediately offered to send our National Guard troops to Louisiana," Blagojevich said. "But I was able to make that decision after carefully assessing our needs here in Illinois and making sure that we could afford to send our troops out of state. We can't turn that decision-making authority over to the federal government, because they will always put their needs ahead of the people of Illinois, and that's not right. That's why every single governor in the nation -- Democrat and Republican -- opposes the president's plan. I'm calling on our congressional leaders -- especially those from Illinois -- to block the plan and keep Illinois safe."

In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, all 50 state governors wrote: "This provision was drafted without consultation or input from governors and represents an unprecedented shift in authority from governors as commanders and chief of the Guard to the federal government.

"We take very seriously our constitutional duty to protect our citizens and lead our Guard. We are responsible for the safety and welfare of our citizens and are in the best position to coordinate all resources to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. The current process by which we use our National Guard in emergencies and request federal assistance when necessary works well and should not be changed," the governors added.

House Resolution 5122 would authorize the president to take control of the Guard in cases of "a serious natural or man-made disaster, accident, or catastrophe that occurs in the United States, its territories and possessions, or Puerto Rico."

The importance of states being able to quickly respond to security threats at the local level was evident this past week following the Aug. 10 foiled terror plots in Britain. At least two governors activated their National Guard units to help cover security needs at major airports. In Illinois, Blagojevich offered to send the Guard to the state's major airports. While the Guard wasn't needed, if the president's proposal passes, the governor's ability to make the offer and protect Illinois' infrastructure could be diminished.

In June, President Bush asked all states to offer their National Guard to help with border security by signing the Jump Start Memorandum of Agreement. Blagojevich late last week agreed to the request to provide Illinois Army and Air National Guard support, but amended the original agreement to make it clear that Illinois can recall its National Guard if there is a need back at home.

The text of the governors' letter is below:

Dear Senator Frist, Senator Reid, Speaker Hastert and Representative Pelosi:

The nation's governors strongly oppose legislation to allow the President to federalize the National Guard in a state without the consent of the governor. The House-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 5122) would authorize the President to take control of the Guard in case of "a serious natural or manmade disaster, accident, or catastrophe that occurs in the United States, its territories and possessions, or Puerto Rico." This provision was drafted without consultation or input from governors and represents an unprecedented shift in authority from governors as Commanders and Chief of the Guard to the federal government.

We take very seriously our constitutional duty to protect our citizens and lead our Guard. We are responsible for the safety and welfare of our citizens and are in the best position to coordinate all resources to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. The current process by which we use our National Guard in emergencies and request federal assistance when necessary works well and should not be changed.

We urge you to drop provisions that would usurp governors' authority over the National Guard during emergencies from the conference agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act.

[Copy of the signed letter] [To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for the PDF file, click here.]

[News release from the governor's office]