Defense cuts could affect tank plant in Lima - Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather Sports

Defense cuts could affect tank plant in Lima

When lawmakers failed to come up with a deficit reduction plan this summer, sequestration cuts automatically were put into place.

That includes a nearly ten percent cut in defense spending.

Members of congress are concerned on how those cuts will affect the Lima tank plant.

Senator Rob Portman remains concerned about the fate of the tank plant given defense cuts that will take effect on January first of next year.

Portman says closing or even scaling back operations at the tank plant doesn't make sense.

Congressman Bob Latta, in Ottawa agrees the cuts are too deep...and then there's the law that requires companies to notify employees of any massive layoffs.

The timing isn't good for the Obama administration according to congressman Latta.

He says the law requires notice of any mass layoff.

The date to look for is the Friday before the November 6th election.

If congress does nothing, more than 500 billion dollars in defense cuts are scheduled to take effect.

Another 500 billion dollars in cuts in non-defense areas will also be implemented by January first.