Defense bill protecting N.J.'s joint military base gets second life
NJ.com. By Jonathan D. Salant
WASHINGTON -- Legislation that would protect Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and ban taxpayer-financed salutes to U.S. troops is likely to become law as a result of the two-year budget deal between the White House and Congress...
...An indication of how the situation has changed was evident in the House vote on the National Defense Authorization Act. The last time, Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1st Dist.) was the only New Jersey House Democrat to support it. This time, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12th Dist.) was the only Democrat in the state's delegation to vote no.
..."This is exactly what we were hoping for, making sure we are spending the correct amount on our troops," Norcross said. "When we want to, we can come to compromise and agreement."