Governor tells Pentagon to return Guard gear Wars' needs have left California at risk, he tells White House

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger meets with the San Francisco Editorial Board , Monday January 28, 2008, in San Francisco, Ca. (Lacy Atkins San Francisco Chronicle) California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger meets with the San Francisco Editorial Board , Monday January 28, 2008, in San Francisco, Ca. (Lacy Atkins San Francisco Chronicle) Photo: Lacy Atkins Photo: Lacy Atkins Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Governor tells Pentagon to return Guard gear 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told Bush administration officials Monday that he is tired of the Pentagon treating the California National Guard like a stepchild by using its equipment in Iraq and Afghanistan without returning or replacing it.

The Republican governor, in a visit to Washington for the annual meeting of the National Governors' Association, said the California National Guard is missing about half of its equipment - from humvees to radios. That could leave California at risk in an earthquake, fire or other emergency, Schwarzenegger said.

"It's not fair to the states for the federal government to go into a war and then to take from us the equipment," he said after meetings Monday with President Bush and Cabinet officials. "Every time our National Guard leaves, they take with them equipment but they don't bring it back."

Other governors have also complained about the drain of equipment. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, said last May that her state's response to a tornado in the town of Greensburg was limited because 15 of the Kansas National Guard's 19 Black Hawk helicopters were overseas, along with trucks, bulldozers and other equipment.

Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Schwarzenegger and other governors that the Pentagon plans to pay to replace some of the equipment that is damaged or destroyed, but the compensation could take several years because of budget constraints.

Schwarzenegger said states also face budget shortfalls and can't shoulder the burden indefinitely.

During the Southern California fires in October, some local officials complained about a lack of air support to contain the blazes, while state and federal officials criticized the U.S. military for failing to deploy some of its C-130 planes immediately after the fires broke out.

A few weeks later, when high winds threatened to worsen fires in Southern California, four of the planes were sent after state officials asked for help.

About 2,500 of the state's National Guardsmen are overseas out of a force of more than 20,000. The state estimates that $1 billion worth of equipment is being used, from diesel generators to trucks to GPS devices.

The California National Guard is also stretched thin because about 1,400 guardsmen are helping the federal government to secure the border with Mexico.

"There's only so long you can do that," the governor said. "We now are missing 50 percent of the equipment - the equipment also (used) to train the National Guard."

Schwarzenegger used his trip to press several other key issues with federal officials - although he left Washington with few firm commitments.

In a meeting with Bush and a small group of border governors from the United States and Mexico, he asked for more federal help in stopping drug smuggling, human trafficking and money laundering. He also pushed the president and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to open more traffic lanes at the border to ease congestion and boost trade with Mexico, California's biggest trading partner.

He met with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson to discuss mortgage issues. The recently approved stimulus package raised federal mortgage limits in high-cost areas from $419,000 to $729,000, but the provision expires at the end of the year. Schwarzenegger wants to see the new limits become permanent, which would help many Bay Area homeowners. Any such package would require congressional action.

The governor is also leading a new effort to lobby the federal government to increase spending on infrastructure. The White House has been cool to the idea, although Democrats in the Senate are talking about a new stimulus package that would add more money for rebuilding highways, bridges and water systems.

"It doesn't need to be part of the stimulus package, it can be separate," Schwarzenegger said, suggesting the money could be inserted into appropriations bills.

The governor said he was too busy this trip to lobby the administration to reconsider its denial of California's waiver to implement its first-in-the-nation greenhouse gas regulations for cars and trucks. The state has sued to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to reject the state's rules.

Schwarzenegger took a few political questions Monday. Asked if he had any advice for Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, he did not urge him to quit the race, but he did suggest the race for the GOP nomination was over. "The people have made their decision," he said.

Schwarzenegger, who endorsed Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain before the Feb. 5 California primary, also downplayed the idea that he would spend much time campaigning for McCain before November.

"There will be a time he will ask me for my help," he said. "He also knows and makes it clear that I am busy and my No. 1 priority is the people of California."

Schwarzenegger took his mother-in-law, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, to a dinner with Bush and other governors at the White House Sunday. He also found time for two fundraisers for his political action committee, the California Dream Team, that were expected to raise about $250,000.