The last-minute try by Maine Senators to have the Pentagon donate—free—the military facilities to be shuttered in Maine to the state’s local governments failed to catch fire. (DR, 11/09/05) Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and cohorts rushed an amendment to the 2006 defense authorization bill to the Senate floor, but lawmakers rejected it.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.