WASHINGTON, June 16 (UPI) -- U.S. governors are insisting they be consulted before any major National Guard changes are made.
"We have serious concerns over the repeated lack of consultation" between governors and the Defense Department, Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner told a congressional commission on behalf of the National Governors Association, Stateline.org reported.
The governors have bitterly differed with the federal government over several recent proposals affecting the Guard, including U.S. President George Bush's budget proposals to reduce troop strength and the chain of command problems that further muddied the Hurricane Katrina waters, Stateline said.
The commission is considering whether governors should be given authority to command active duty armed forces to respond to catastrophic emergencies in their area, Stateline reported.
