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August 22. 2012 10:58PM
U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H. expresses concerns about defense spending cuts while talking to workers at Cobham in Exeter on Wednesday. (JASON SCHREIBER/Union Leader Correspondent)
Ayotte tours Exeter defense company, voices opposition to spending cuts
U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H. expresses concerns about defense spending cuts while talking to workers at Cobham in Exeter on Wednesday. (JASON SCHREIBER/Union Leader Correspondent)
EXETER — U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., praised New Hampshire's defense suppliers for their support of the nation's military Wednesday and expressed concern about spending cuts she says could threaten national security and force thousands out of work.
“It's still a very dangerous world out there ladies and gentlemen. This is not a time for us to undermine our national security,” Ayotte told workers at Cobham in Exeter during a stop Wednesday afternoon.
Ayotte visited Cobham, a company that makes components for radar systems in ships, submarines and aircraft, and Nanocomp in Merrimack.
Ayotte, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said $500 billion in automatic “sequestration” cuts to the military budget are expected to begin in January.
That, she said, is on top of $487 billion cuts to Pentagon spending.
The budget reduction could eliminate as many as 3,600 defense jobs in New Hampshire alone, said Ayotte, who is fighting the planned defense cuts and has co-sponsored legislation to halt them, urging Congress to find other ways to save money.
Cobham employs approximately 320 workers at two Exeter facilities and is adding another 105,000 square feet as part of an expansion project.
Stephen Bouchard, Cobham's general business manager, said the defense cuts would have a significant impact on the company.
“Every program we work on here will be cut by 10 to 12 percent,” he said, adding that while the cuts are expected to occur in January, the effects are already being felt.
“Contract awards appear to be shorter in duration and smaller in size because the services don't know what to expect. Uncertainty in our industry is affecting investment and hiring among all the defense contractors. The very prospect of sequestration is having a chilling effect on the industry,” Bouchard said.
At the same time, Cobham is consolidating its operations, a move that led to the expansion at its Exeter location and will add another 100 jobs, Bouchard said.
“However, we need this to continue. Therefore, it is so important to find a way to stop sequestration now and implement a more responsible deficit reduction plan,” he said.
Jason Schreiber may be reached at jschreiber@newstote.com.
“It's still a very dangerous world out there ladies and gentlemen. This is not a time for us to undermine our national security,” Ayotte told workers at Cobham in Exeter during a stop Wednesday afternoon.
Ayotte visited Cobham, a company that makes components for radar systems in ships, submarines and aircraft, and Nanocomp in Merrimack.
Ayotte, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said $500 billion in automatic “sequestration” cuts to the military budget are expected to begin in January.
That, she said, is on top of $487 billion cuts to Pentagon spending.
The budget reduction could eliminate as many as 3,600 defense jobs in New Hampshire alone, said Ayotte, who is fighting the planned defense cuts and has co-sponsored legislation to halt them, urging Congress to find other ways to save money.
Cobham employs approximately 320 workers at two Exeter facilities and is adding another 105,000 square feet as part of an expansion project.
Stephen Bouchard, Cobham's general business manager, said the defense cuts would have a significant impact on the company.
“Every program we work on here will be cut by 10 to 12 percent,” he said, adding that while the cuts are expected to occur in January, the effects are already being felt.
“Contract awards appear to be shorter in duration and smaller in size because the services don't know what to expect. Uncertainty in our industry is affecting investment and hiring among all the defense contractors. The very prospect of sequestration is having a chilling effect on the industry,” Bouchard said.
At the same time, Cobham is consolidating its operations, a move that led to the expansion at its Exeter location and will add another 100 jobs, Bouchard said.
“However, we need this to continue. Therefore, it is so important to find a way to stop sequestration now and implement a more responsible deficit reduction plan,” he said.
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Jason Schreiber may be reached at jschreiber@newstote.com.
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