(NC) Talks to expand or close military bases can be kept secret under new legislation

http://www.fayobserver.com/military/talks-to-expand-or-close-military-bases-can-be-kept/article_48a4a12c-477d-5329-ba24-51a361618343.html

Talks to expand or close military bases can be kept secret under new legislation
Posted: Friday, June 27, 2014 10:27 am | Updated: 7:52 am, Sat Jun 28, 2014.

By Paul Woolverton Staff writer

RALEIGH - The state House voted 113-0 Wednesday to make some government records secret if they are related to plans to close or expand military bases in North Carolina.

The legislation is intended to protect North Carolina's interests during future Base Realignment and Closure efforts by Congress, said state Rep. Elmer Floyd, a Fayetteville Democrat who represents the Fort Bragg community.

The federal government periodically conducts BRAC to adjust the size and deployment of military resources to best meet the nation's needs. The most recent BRAC sent a Special Forces unit away from Fort Bragg and converted Pope Air Force Base into an Army airfield. It also brought Forces Command and Reserve Command to Fort Bragg from Atlanta - a move that expanded the number of upper-ranked personnel based in North Carolina.

The legislation suddenly emerged in a House committee on Wednesday morning, when a Senate bill about workers' compensation insurance had all of its text deleted and replaced with the BRAC provisions.