WASHINGTON — Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and former U.S. Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, have been discussing Hansen's possible nomination to the commission that decides which military bases remain open and which ones are closed.

But Hansen's selection is not a sure thing, despite news media reports Tuesday.

"I think the story is quite premature, honestly, because it makes it appear that I'm a slam-dunk member of the nine commissioners of base closing, which is not true," Hansen said Tuesday.

Hansen confirmed he has had discussions with Hastert about a possible seat on the commission but said he has not yet received word whether Hastert has made his final recommendations to President Bush.

Hastert's office had no comment on the Hansen nomination, saying it is premature.

Capitol Hill sources agree that while it is too soon to say Hansen has the nomination, it is looking like the former congressman will be nominated.

U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, who represents northern Utah and has made saving Hill Air Force Base his highest priority, is downplaying the report that Hansen has landed a spot on the commission.

"The final word comes from the president with the recommendations from various folks, including the speaker," said Scott Parker, Bishop's spokesman. "The process is not complete and it is a lengthy process. It is never wise to say something is done before it is done."

Bishop's office has been in discussions over Hansen's potential appointment to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC). As of Tuesday, Bishop had received no confirmation that Hansen had even been formally recommended for a seat on the commission.

The offices of Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, were awaiting official word. Both senators are watching the Hansen nomination closely. Tens of thousands of Utah jobs would be at stake should Hill Air Force Base end up on the closure list.

During Hansen's 22 years in the House, he was a staunch defender of Hill Air Force Base. He often used his position on the House Armed Services Committee to protect Hill's interests.

And during his recent gubernatorial bid, he campaigned on the premise that saving Hill Air Force Base was the most important economic development priority in the state.

"There is nobody more qualified than Jim Hansen to be on the (BRAC) commission," Parker said. "We think it would be great for Utah if he were on the commission."

"I'm not going there as an advocate of the state of Utah, or an advocate of Hill Air Force Base," Hansen said. "But there is no question, with me on the commission, if that should come about, Hill Field and Dugway Proving Ground, our two biggest bases, would get a fair shake."

BRAC makes recommendations to the president and Congress as to which military bases should be closed. In past years, BRAC recommended closing Fort Douglas on the University of Utah campus and the Ogden Defense Depot.

BRAC has been recommending base closures since 1988, all part of military downsizing designed to save money by closing military posts that are redundant or non-essential. Closing the bases saves billions of dollars annually, the Defense Department has reported.

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