WASHINGTON — Hawai'i's two Democratic congressmen were on opposite sides of a vote yesterday to allow the closing and consolidation of dozens of U.S. military bases across the country.

By a vote of 324-85, the House rejected a proposal that would have derailed the Base Realignment and Closure plan to close 22 major bases, restructure 33 others and make hundreds of smaller changes under the plan, which becomes law next month.

The vote dashed the hopes of some communities that Congress might save their bases and the jobs they provide.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie voted to approve the proposal (which would have scrapped the closure process) and Rep. Ed Case voted to block it.

Abercrombie said the base closing process was "deeply flawed" and constituted a "standing threat to Pearl Harbor" naval facilities and other bases vital to national defense.

"Under any rational criteria, Pearl Harbor wouldn't have been seriously considered for closure," said Abercrombie, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Earlier in the process, the commission unsuccessfully tried to add Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard to the list of installations being considered for closure.

The Pentagon wants to close bases to save money and reorganize the military so it is better prepared to fight terrorism and modern wars.

Opponents, mostly those with installations that will be closed or scaled back, said this is the wrong time for such a move.

"We're in Iraq and we don't shut down military infrastructure in a time of war," said Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., whose district includes Fort Monmouth, an Army research base that will be closed.

The Pentagon projects the changes will save an estimated $35.6 billion over 20 years but the Government Accountability Office pegs the savings at closer to $15 billion.

GNS reporter Dennis Camire contributed to this report.