This is in response to Commissioner Homola’s recent “Sound off.”

As it turns out, a trip to D.C. wasn’t necessary to get a feel for what the Navy is planning for NAS Whidbey. Admiral Gary Roughead, our CNO, laid it out pretty clearly in a testimony before the Armed Services Committee in early March.

He had much to say about how Congress working without a budget, and with one continued resolution after another, is stifling the behind the scenes process necessary to fulfill routine goals for preparedness.

In the 2012 budget, procurement of the P-8A Poseidon has been increased and it will be used to transition from our legacy P-3 Orion. We are lined up to purchase 114 EA-18E Growlers for 14 various squadrons all to be stationed at NAS Whidbey.

The Poseidons are scheduled to begin replacing the Orion in 2013 at a rate of two squadrons per year. Admiral Roughead states this is essential and requests that Congress appropriate the funds needed for this transition.

It appears we could do the most to help our local NAS Whidbey by contacting our senators Cantwell, Murray and Rep. Larsen, and ask them to stop the continuing resolutions and finally pass a budget.

Our local elected officials should focus on their jobs and stop activities that satisfy their ego-driven personal agenda items. These trips resulted in nothing but a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Bill Strowbridge
Oak Harbor