House OKs $295 Billion for Defense, Cuts B-2 and SDI

The House on Friday approved a $295-billion defense spending package that makes wholesale cuts in President Bush’s budget for the Strategic Defense Initiative and B-2 Stealth bomber.

The Democratic-controlled House rejected Bush’s argument that the high-priced weapons are key to the nation’s defense and voted, 273 to 105, to adopt an appropriation that largely follows the separate authorization legislation approved two weeks ago.

The legislation cuts money for weapons designed to counter the Soviet threat, which has diminished since the collapse of the Warsaw Pact. It adds funds for weapons that proved successful in the Persian Gulf War.

“I think the results of Desert Storm have been a perfect example of how you can be very careful and frugal with the money we’ve spent and at the same time build systems that will actually reduce the amount of casualties,” said Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee.

Bush has threatened to veto the legislation, citing the cuts in SDI, also known as “Star Wars,” and the B-2 bomber and the bill’s rejection of the Administration’s proposed reduction in the National Guard and reserves.

The Senate has not acted on its versions of the defense authorization and appropriations bills, which eventually must be reconciled with the House-passed measures.

The chief differences between the appropriations bill and the earlier authorization bill include the provision in the spending bill of $1.3 billion in additional money for fast sealift ships that can rapidly haul heavy equipment great distances, an outgrowth of the Persian Gulf War.

Abortion rights advocates were dealt a setback when they were outfoxed by Appropriations Committee leaders, who kept them from offering an amendment identical to one approved by the House during debate on the Pentagon authorization bill.

Although the amendment, which would have let U.S. servicewomen and dependents obtain abortions at their expense at overseas military hospitals, was approved by the full Appropriations Committee, it was struck from the bill by a point of order on the floor.

That became possible when committee leaders, who are opposed to abortion, failed to ask the Rules Committee for a waiver that would have barred the point of order.