Shuttered Military Bases: Use Them For New Oil Refineries or Homeless Housing?

Last May, President Bush suggested building new Oil Refineries on military bases that were slated to be closed. Here's the article. As gasoline prices are still exceedingly high, the off-the-cuff remark by former oilman, now President, seemed like a logical solution to lower gas prices. Drill more oil, and use military bases as refineries.

But this threatens the 1994 Base Closure Act that puts homeless providers at the head of the line to use surplus federal properties including military bases. 53 former military bases have been used to help house the homeless.

With land getting more expensive, and the length of time to build facilities, it makes sense to use federal land and facilities for desperately needed housing for the homeless.

So will Oil Refineries trump homeless housing? I certainly hope not.

Housing for the homeless and poor should certainly be a priority over lower gasoline prices…