Courtney gets Democrats’ support on submarines

Freshman Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), who narrowly defeated Rob Simmons (R) in November, is getting support from senior Democrats on an issue Simmons fought tooth-and-nail.

Like Simmons before him, Courtney is angling to double the production of nuclear submarines, starting in 2010, to two per year.

A win for Courtney on this issue, which is economically important to eastern Connecticut, could give the first-term congressman a significant boost in the 2008 elections. Republicans now consider his seat a potential pickup.

Increasing submarine production could bolster national security, and also would avert further layoffs at submarine-maker Electric Boat. Electric Boat, a division of General Dynamics, shares the production of submarines with Northrop Grumman in Newport News, Va.

The Navy is slated to buy two submarines yearly beginning in 2012, until 30 Virginia-class submarines are built. Courtney wants to see the doubled production in 2010 instead.

Since his arrival in Congress, Courtney has reached out to the chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), and the chairman of the Armed Services Seapower and Expeditionary Forces subcommittee, Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), who has Murtha’s ear. 

During a closed-door meeting with shipbuilding industry representatives last week, Murtha said that he would like to increase yearly ship production by five ships a year, including one Virginia class submarine, according to several sources.

Taylor scheduled a hearing tomorrow on Virginia-class submarine production, during which submarine builders likely will argue that they have taken steps in driving down the costs of production.

Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), chairman of the Armed Services panel, has “bent over backwards to help new members,” Courtney, a member of the committee, said in an interview. “He has given us a wide berth to explore questions.”

Courtney, whose district includes Electric Boat and the New London submarine base, is not alone in his advocacy for more submarines. He has support from the Rhode Island delegation. 

Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) and Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) are members of the Armed Services panels in both chambers. Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) vowed to fight for more submarines.

“This matters a lot to me. This matters a lot to our country,” Lieberman said at a submarine industry group breakfast. Electric Boat is intensifying its lobbying push, an uphill battle at a time when the defense budget is strained by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Courtney and other supporters worry that the Navy is more interested in purchasing other capabilities than submarines at a time when China and Iran are pushing ahead with their submarine production.
In a report to Congress, the Navy said boosting the production of submarines early would disrupt its overall shipbuilding plan by shifting about $5.1 billion from other important programs.

Courtney fondly remembers that Democrats saved the Seawolf program when President George H.W. Bush’s administration wanted to cancel it, and said his fellow party members similarly may prevail with the Virginia-class submarine.

Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Newport News have established a solid record of delivering high-quality submarines on time, Courtney said.

By going to a higher production, “you create more efficiencies,” Courtney said. “It is not a wild shipbuilding spree.”

A boost in submarine production also would preserve a skilled workforce, which may be hard to replace going forward.

Courtney, who had campaign support from Electric Boat workers, has gained support from the company’s management, which now is in regular contact with the lawmaker.

Those in the defense industry generally prefer to support the campaigns of incumbents, but now that Courtney is in office, industry officials in his district are shifting their focus to him — which could help to fill Courtney’s coffers during the 2008 campaign.

Simmons, who was hired by Connecticut’s governor for a business advocacy position, said he would not try to reclaim his seat if confirmed by the state legislature. Even if Simmons does not run, Republicans consider the seat a potential pickup.