European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 08, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday september 8. 1985 the stars and stripes Page 5 of wastes millions whistle-blower7 charges Washington a the air Force is wasting millions of dollars because of excessive Price Mark ups by contractors a problem that is More widespread than a few Well Public cd spare parts cases a Pentagon employee told Congress on Friday. There is no escaping the fact that pc have irn unious fat across the  a. Virnest Fil Gerald told the joint economic committee excessive Mark ups apply to a great Deal More con tracts than just those for spare parts he said. Fit Gerald s contentions were rebutted by Richard e. Carver assistant air Force Secretary for financial management. He said that the service is fully committed to ending High prices and has taken a wide Range of Steps to Cut costs of buying equipment. Fitzgerald a financial management systems Deputy in Carver s office was fired by the Pentagon in 1969 after he told Congress about huge Cost overruns in the giant c-5a Florida Democrat picked for flight on space shuttle Washington a rep. Dill Nelson who chairs the House subcommittee on space science will become the second member of Congress to Fly on the space shuttle. I am a Happy boy he said accepting Nasa s invitation Friday. Air plane. He sued in Federal court in a celebrated whistle Blower Case to regain his Job and rejoined the Pentagon two years ago ago. Fitzgerald told the panel that military contractors com Ionly Bill the Pentagon for overhead rates that Are far Char than in private Industry. He also said the Pentagon is trying to withhold the names of six defense contractors involved in overpriced contracts. Fit Gerald said the disclosure of the names would Embarrass the Pentagon. Carver said making Public the names and Dclark of contracts might violate Laws designed to keep confidential information that is considered  Carver premised to Check with air Force Legal officials and said he would be delighted to make the information Public if no Legal problems w Ould arise from