Governor Tim Pawlenty signed on to a National Governors Association (NGA) letter asking Secretary of Defense Robert Gates not to transfer 12 transport aircraft from national guard units around the nation to the active duty Air Force.

At issue for Minnesota are two planes from the 16 that are based with the state's Air National Guard 133rd Air Wing and the Air Force Reserve's 934th Air Wing. Various members of the House and Senate from other states also have sent letters urging the Pentagon to reconsider.

This is the second letter Pawlenty, who co-chairs the NGA's committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, has sent to top military brass about the impact the request would have on Minnesota units. On April 2, he sent a personal letter to Air Force Secretary Michael Donley about the matter, saying the plan would "negatively impact the operations of these two excellent units."

Both of Pawlenty's letters expressed disappointment that this decision was made without consulting the nation's governors, particularly the Department of Defense's Govenrnor Council. That body was "created precisely to assist the [Defense] Department with this type of decision," Pawlenty wrote. "If you choose to reconsider this decision, I urge you to take advantage of the Council's perspective in this manner."

The C-130, or "Hercules," is a versatile aircraft used to transport personnel and supplies in hostile situations. Captain S.J. Brown of the 934th said the unit uses its eight C-130s for a variety of things, including to transport "people, patients and pallets," and participate in the Denton Program, which allows civilian donors to use availble space on military planes to transport humanitarian aid.

Hayley Tsukayama is an intern in the Star Tribune's Washington bureau.