The Lexington Herald-Leader published this editorial today that properly credits Congressman Ben Chandler and the rest of the Kentucky delegation for their terrific efforts in the House to prevent further delay of the safe and environmentally-responsible destruction of chemical weapons stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot.

Chemical weapons cloud

In a reassuring display of bipartisanship, every member of the U.S. House from Kentucky and Colorado has signed a letter penned by Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, calling on the House to reject Pentagon delays in the destruction of chemical weapons in the two states.

The Pentagon wants to delay completion of the disposal work from 2015 until 2023 in Kentucky and from 2016 to 2020 in Colorado.

The delays would end up costing taxpayers an extra $3.3 billion over the long term.
Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Wayne Allard, R-Colo., got a deadline of 2017 inserted into the Senate's defense authorization bill.

Now their amendment must be incorporated into the final bill, which is being worked out in negotiations between the House and Senate.

The United States will miss a treaty deadline of 2012 for getting rid of chemical weapons.

Chandler and the rest of the two delegations urged the House negotiators to support the 2017 deadline.

It's insane to make taxpayers pay more to be in danger longer. The House should support the McConnell-Allard amendment.

To learn more about this issue, watch our video on Kentucky hero Craig Williams.