Governor Set to Sue Over Air Guard Mission

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Gov. Brian Schweitzer is telling the Defense Department that he will sue to block any plans to take the state's Air National Guard mission without a suitable replacement.

Schweitzer said Thursday the lawsuit will be filed in federal court next week.

The Air Force has said it is moving F-15 fighter jets currently stationed in Great Falls to California. The Air Force has said they would be replaced by C-130s.

But that has prompted intervention by Gulf Coast states that would lose those planes.

Schweitzer says he wants to make sure Montana is not caught in the lurch.

He says federal law requires a governor's permission before the federal government can make a change in a state guard's organization.