Virginia governor opposes Navy move

NORFOLK, Va., June 3 (UPI) -- Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine says he sees no justification for the U.S. Navy's proposal to shift sailors and ships from Virginia to Florida.

Kaine disagrees with a study recommending that the Navy shift an aircraft carrier and other personnel, perhaps from the Hampton Roads area, to upgrade the Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Fla., reported the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Tuesday.

"When you have assets and installations that are perfectly suitable, spending more to upfit another one and then moving assets out of Virginia, I don't think it's fiscally the smart thing to do," Kaine said. "It doesn't have any defense justification as far as I can see, and that's why we weighed in and said this is not something the (U.S. Defense Department) should be doing."