Air Force Secretary Visits 911th Airlift Wing

Secretary Michael Donley tours the Moon Township air base.

At the request of Pennsylvania lawmakers, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley toured the 911th Airlift Wing in Moon Township Thursday.  The Air Force announced plans earlier this year to shutter the Moon-based wing and lay off each of its more than 1,100 military and 280 civilian personnel positions as a part of an effort to reduce federal defense spending. The closing would retire each of the base's C-130 aircraft, which are among the oldest tactical planes in the country.  No details were available on Donley's tour of the wing.  Reps. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, and Mike Kelly, R-Butler, released a joint statement on Donley's visit.  “It’s an …

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Rep. Murphy: Legislation Could Halt Aircraft Retirements

Murphy's office said two bill drafts could prevent the 911th Airlift Wing from closing in 2013.

Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, said two draft versions of two national defense bills could prevent the closure of the 911th Airlift Wing, according to his office.  Murphy said if passed the bills would allow the Moon-based wing to keep each of its eight C-130 aircraft and prevent a downsizing of the neighboring 171st Refueling Wing.  A defense appropriations bill slated for a vote next week before the House Appropriations Commitee would freeze any proposed retirements or transfers of Air Force aircraft, including the 911th's C-130s and the KC-135 refueling stratotankers at the 171st Refueling Wing.  The House Committee on Armed Services also released a defense-planning bill for 2013 that stops all C-130 aircraft retirements planned …

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Fight to Save 911th Arrives in Moon

Military supporters today gathered at a rally to protest the Air Force's planned closure of the 911th Airlift Wing.

Hundreds of military supporters gathered earlier today on Airside Drive in Moon to protest the planned 2013 closure of the 911th Airlift Wing. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, and Rep. Mark Critz, D-Johnstown, as well as members of Moon Township's Board of Supervisors were among those who gathered in Airport Cargo Building A to express opposition to the Air Force's decision to shutter the base. Despite its recently announced plans to close the Moon-based airlift wing, the Air Force has invested more than $58 million in infrastructure at the base in the past five years, according to Murphy's recent testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. The base tomorrow will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of Building …

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Protesters Call On Rep. Murphy To Support Buffett Rule

More than 30 people congregated in front of U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy's Mt. Lebanon office on tax day.

More than 30 people protested outside of U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy's  Mt. Lebanon office Tuesday calling on him to support the Buffett Rule. "We're speaking out on tax day because the middle class and working poor paid a higher tax rate than Mitt Romney, Wells Fargo and many other big corporations and rich people," said John Hemington of Peters Township. "The poor and middle class have been paying their fair share for a long time. It's time for the 1 percent to pay their fair share, too." The Buffett Rule is a tax plan proposed by President Barack Obama that would require a minimum tax of 30 percent to individuals making more than a million dollars a year. It's named for billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who has said it is unfair for him to …

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Louisa

5:37 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012

I agree Chuck, these folks should go out and get a job rather than protest. If you took all the money the rich have, not just the money they make in a year it wouldn't be enough to plug the hole Obama has blown in our federal budget. As Lincoln said, tearing down the wage payer does not build up the worker. Obama needs to stop this class warfare he has started.   more ›

Murphy Meets with School District Officials on 911th Closure

The Moon Area School Board adopts a resolution condemning the base closure.

U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, fielded questions Monday night from members of the public and the Moon Area School Board on the upcoming closure of the 911th Airlift Wing.  Murphy presented school board members with a report from Air Force officials outlining reasons for the base's closure, which Murphy said did not include a cost analysis of the Moon-based wing. Murphy said the report did not account for the more than $50 million spent on new facilities at the base since 2004 or its use of four 10,000-foot runways at Pittsburgh International Airport for an annual cost of $20,000.  "How does this happen in Washington?" said school board member Jeff Bussard. "Is this some kind of sheer shortsightedness? It seems to escape logic…

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Murphy to Host Forum on 911th Closure at Moon Area High School

The congressman will speak to residents tonight about the planned closure of the Moon-based 911th Airlift Wing.

U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, will speak to residents at tonight's Moon Area School Board meeting about the planned closure of Moon's 911th Airlift Wing. Murphy is hosting a public forum at 7 p.m. in the high school board meeting room to answer questions about the plan to shutter the Moon-based installation. All residents are welcome to attend, according to a statement from Murphy's office.  The Air Force announced plans earlier this year to close the airlift wing, eliminating more than 1,100 military and 280 civilian personnel positions in the move. The plan also includes a downsizing of the neighboring 171st Refueling Wing. The 911th was targeted for closure as a part of a Pentagon plan to cut as much as $8.7 billion from the …

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Talk of the Town

Rep. Murphy to Attend Event at Crescent Fire Hall

If you could ask Rep. Tim Murphy a question, what would it be?

U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, will attend a question-and-answer session Friday at the Crescent Township Fire Hall.  The event, with Crescent Commissioner Jerry Keller and resident Christopher Clay as hosts, will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the fire hall on Spring Run Road Extension. Registration is required to attend.  Keller said residents will be able to submit questions prior to the event, which the Congressman will answer during the session. Questions must be approved before they will go before the Congressman. The event will also function as a fundraiser for Murphy's re-election campaign.  Those interested in attending may call 412-526-0845 to register.  Update: A representative from Rep. Tim Murphy's office said the event has …

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Officials to Address Closing of 911th Airlift Wing

Local lawmakers and members of a military coalition will conduct a news conference tomorrow to address efforts to prevent the closure.

The Military Affairs Coalition of Western Pennsylvania and Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, will conduct a news conference at 9 a.m. tomorrow at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh address the closure of Moon’s 911th Airlift Wing. Officials will update the public on the closure of the wing and the downsizing of the neighboring 171st Refueling Wing. The group will also detail its plans to prevent the closure, according to a statement. The Air Force announced it will shutter the 911th air reserve wing as a part of an effort to drastically cut federal defense spending. Other military installations, including the 171st, are slated for realignment under the plan. Check back with Patch for coverage.

Air Force to Close 911th Airlift Wing in Moon

More than 1,400 military and civilian jobs are slated to be eliminated by the closing.

The  Air Force announced Tuesday that it would move forward with plans to close the 911th Airlift Wing in Moon Township as part of a national restructuring plan.  The Air Force plans to reduce personnel based in Pennsylvania by 25 percent as a part of the measure. Closing the 911th — the only U.S. base to be shuttered under the plan — will eliminate as many as 281 civilian and 1,122 military positions at the base. All of the 911th's eight C-130 tactical aircraft also will be retired under the plan. The Air Force in February announced its intention to close the base in fiscal year 2013.  The Air Force also will also retire four KC-135 refueling tankers at the neighboring 171st Refueling Wing and reduce aircraft at multiple Air Force …

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