In an interview Sunday that her campaign admits was "confusing," Republican congressional candidate Janet Peckinpaugh reiterated her support for the Naval Submarine Base but indicated she would not support the increased federal spending there that has been a hallmark of incumbent Joe Courtney's tenure.

Her comments came on the WFSB-TV program "Face the State," when host Dennis House said Courtney, who represents the 2nd Congressional District, has brought in millions for new sub base projects and asked Peckinpaugh if she would support that kind of spending.

"No, I wouldn't. We've got to tighten our budgets," Peckinpaugh said. "We don't have a budget. The House did not have a budget this time around. Why is that? That's frightening to me and to the American people. We have to start stripping things away, and that includes special interest money."

On Monday, a campaign spokeswoman for Peckinpaugh said the candidate's comments about "special interest" referred to legislative earmarks.

Spokeswoman Danica Pecirep added that the interview was confusing because Peckinpaugh, a former television broadcaster who had worked at WFSB and other Connecticut stations, and House were talking over each other.

"She is in support of the sub base. She is in support of projects that they have there now and that they will have there in the future," Pecirep said. "She is not saying that she wouldn't support it."

However, all but one of the improvement projects were funded through earmarks, also called "congressional adds."

Courtney, a Democrat, has insisted funding infrastructure and other construction projects is vital to the base's future. Since 2007, more than $80 million has been allocated "to upgrade the base and increase its value to the military," said Courtney's campaign manager, Neil McKiernan.

"Janet Peckinpaugh's statements on the submarine base have been incoherent at best and utterly alarming at worst," McKiernan said in a statement. "First, she said that protecting the base should be 'absolutely bipartisan' - after participating in a partisan stunt aimed at stoking fears of a non-existent closure threat. Then, just yesterday, Peckinpaugh said she would turn down the very funding needed to support it. Janet Peckinpaugh either lacks the most basic understanding of the issues facing the sub base or she is actively advocating policies that undermine its future."

McKiernan said Courtney's earmarks for the sub base include a new submarine learning center ($9 million), waterfront operations center ($12 million), indoor firing range ($11 million), torpedo magazine ($7 million), and submarine leadership headquarters building ($13 million).

A $46 million project to replace a submarine pier was the only project included in the Pentagon budget, he said.

"Adds for military construction projects are one key way that a member of Congress advocates for a base - otherwise, the only other way for a base to be funded for additional projects is for one to be included in the budget by the DOD," McKiernan said. "Without congressional adds, these projects are typically scheduled to be funded years down the road - and often punted further into the future with each successive budget."

The sub base has become a political football this election season, with several Connecticut Republicans including Peckinpaugh, gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley and former Congressman Rob Simmons holding a press conference near the Thames River base late last month.

The base last came under intense scrutiny in 2005, when the Pentagon recommended closing the base. Ultimately, after heavy lobbying from state and congressional officials, the Groton base was spared by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC).

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Sen. Judd Gregg (R-New Hampshire) have made calls to reduce military spending, including through base closures. However, the sub base has not been named as a potential target.

Peckinpaugh said in the TV interview that she recently toured the Groton base with Sean Sullivan, a former commander of the base during his Naval career. Sullivan launched an unsuccessful bid for Courtney's seat in 2008 and is now running for a seat in the state Senate.

"He really has educated me to what is going on there," she said. "We have to save that. And you know what it is, Dennis? It's not about unemployment - it's about military budgets. Something has to go when you spend the way the Democrats are spending, at the level they have been spending. Something gets cut, the military gets cut, BRAC happens again and you know the sub base could be on the line. Joe Courtney said he's being vigilant, but he's not worried about it. I'm frankly worried about it, Dennis."

Peckinpaugh has said that Democratic programs like the health care reforms that passed last spring have increased federal spending so much that other areas, like the military, are in jeopardy.

m.collette@theday.com

To view Peckinpaugh's interview, visit http://www.wfsb.com/video/24990216/index.html

Transcript of the discussion of sub base funding:

Dennis House: Congressman Joe Courtney will tell you that there's no imminent danger of that base closing but as you mentioned it could come up -

Janet Peckinpaugh: Right.

House: In the next four or five years -

Peckinpaugh: Right.

House: But he's also brought in millions of dollars to that area to invest in infrastructure at the base. Would you have accepted that money if you're not against spending?

Peckinpaugh: If I'm not against spending, it depends on where it's coming from. If it's special interest money that has gotten in the wrong way -

House: This is government money.

Peckinpaugh: It's government money, but I mean if it's, you know - no, no I wouldn't. We've got to tighten our budgets. We don't have a budget. The House did not present a budget this time around. Why is that? That's frightening to me and to the American people. We have to start stripping things away, and that includes special interest money."