When the nation’s governors raise a red flag about an issue, people should pay attention.
In a strongly worded letter sent recently to congressional leaders, 51 governors (including two from U.S. territories) expressed their opposition to a pending proposal that would allow the president to act alone and take control of National Guard troops in emergencies. Now, a governor must agree before Guard troops are put under direct federal control.
The governors are worried about a little-noticed provision in the National Defense Authorization Act, already passed by the House but awaiting Senate consideration. Language in the bill would let the president unilaterally take over Guard units in case of “a serious natural or manmade disaster, accident or catastrophe.”
“The idea of federalizing yet another function of government in America is a) the wrong direction, and b) counterproductive,” said Republican Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina.
Colorado Gov. Bill Owens was the only state governor who didn’t sign the letter. Spokesman Dan Hopkins said Owens typically doesn’t sign such group letters but shares the concerns of fellow governors.
The administration has kept a low profile on the issue – The Washington Post couldn’t get any White House or National Security Council response when it asked for comment recently. Governors say they weren’t consulted about the idea and only discovered the provision recently.
Some observers suspect the proposal is a belated reaction to Hurricane Katrina and the bungled government response that followed it. (We note, however, that the biggest problems after Katrina were within a wholly federal agency – the Federal Emergency Management Agency.)
Of course, swift, smoothly coordinated response is vital after natural disasters or terrorist attacks. But, Katrina aside, the idea sounds like a solution in search of a problem.
Some might suspect the governors of just trying to protect their own turf. We don’t think so. The unanimity of governors from both major parties, from small and large states and from across the country, indicates otherwise. And, in recent years, many governors have proven themselves better administrators and problem solvers than the administration and Congress.
The traditional state-federal balance of National Guard control shouldn’t be upset without a close look and open debate.
The Senate needs to make sure that examination and debate takes place, and that such a significant change doesn’t just slip through.
