Duncan Hunter Honored

The 'Hunter' defense bill

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Duncan Hunter has been involved in 28 defense authorization bills during his long career in Congress. But rarely has he been as tongue-tied -- or as honored -- as he was Tuesday when President Bush signed into law the latest such bill.

This one was different from all the others -- it was officially named after the Alpine Republican: "The Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009."

The honor was the idea of the Democrat who replaced Hunter as chairman of the Armed Services Committee when Republicans lost their majority in 2006.

During closing debate on the bill, Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., said he named it for Hunter because the San Diegan "has been a tireless advocate for the troops and a great partner, as well as a personal friend to me."

He added, "The Armed Services Committee will miss him. I think it is deeply appropriate that we name this bill for him."

Hunter, who is retiring from Congress after this year, seemed a little flummoxed by the whole thing. He praised the Democrats like Skelton for being "very kind to him".

"It's something I felt undeserved, but very nice of them," he said.-end

Many have speculated that Duncan Hunter could be the next Secretary of Defense if McCain is elected, Mike Huckabee had even named Hunter as his choice for Sec of Defense before dropping out of the race.