European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 3, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday. January 3, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 3capitol Hill goes on the defensive lawmakers vow fight Over military budget Washington apr fierce fighting Between Congress and president Bush Over cancellation of a handful of conventional weapons is a Harbinger of the Battles expected Over the next military budget lawmakers say. A Secretary Dick Cheney opened an ugly  said rep. John Rowland. Of cd Onn. Looking ahead to the certain strife w Hen the Secretary of defense delivers his fiscal 1991 defense budget to Congress in late january. Cheney started a wave of dire predictions in the Pentagon and concern in Congress when he directed the military services to consider possible cuts amounting to $140 billion to $180 billion for fiscal 1992 to 1994. On closer examination the potential cuts in a 199294 defense department wish list reflected a Pentagon realization that its future spending Levels would not differ significantly from the amounts Congress approved during the past five years defense analysis and lawmakers say. White House budget planners have told Cheney he can spend a Little More than $292 billion in fiscal 1991, which begins oct. I. That Means the budget would not keep Pace with inflation which the administration estimates is averaging 4.1 percent. Congress approved $286 billion in fiscal 1990. When Congress weighs the new budget it will have to consider whether to reduce military spending even further. Lawmakers walked this year when Cheney proposed a military plan for fiscal 1990 that eliminated 10 conventional weapons programs including the Marine corps v-22 Osprey and the Navy a f-i4d Jet fighter but left strategic programs such As the b-2 stealth bomber relatively intact. The fiscal 1990 defense budget that emerged from Congress restored some of the Money for the conventional weapons Cut funds significantly for the strategic defense initiative and trimmed the budget for other High tech programs. The nearly two month process left some lawmakers shaking their Heads in disgust. A in my roughly 20 years involved in this. In be never seen such forceful if not ruthless  said sen. John Warner of Virginia ranking Republican on the Senate armed services committee of the wrangling Over the f-l4djet fighter. But those skirmishes will seem like child a play when Congress tackles the next budget most observers say. The chairman of the House armed serv ices committee took a swipe at the Bush administration on thursday charging that it bungled the announcement of future defense cuts by failing to spell out a military strategy. Rep. Los Aspin. D-wis., said that without a strategy the administration faces the likelihood of lawmakers concerned with parochial interests crafting the defense budget. A i think it will be the most contentious in years. Especially with the shrinking Hiu Root and in Light of what s going on in Eastern  said rep. Ike Skelton do. An armed services committee member. A it will definitely be bloodier said John Isaacs of the Liberal Ercus Council for a liable world. Although All the budget numbers and possible weapons cuts have not been hammered out a and won t be officially until the budget arrives on Capitol Hill a Likely reductions in the fiscal 199 budget have emerged in recent weeks. To Date they include a stretching out production of the b-2 stealth bomber program which could raise the per plane Cost of the radar evading aircraft from $5.10 million to As High As $ 1 billion. A cancellation of the army a m i Abrams tank according to congressional sources who asked not to be identified. A reduction of the current troop strength of 2.1 million by about 275.000 and elimination of three army combat divisions five air Force fighter wings and about 60 naval vessels from a Fleet of 562. The defense budget for fiscal 1990 requires Cheney to consider substantial troop cuts by reducing the military personnel account by $461 million. Also on the chopping Block again is the v-22 Osprey which Congress delayed a decision on by approving $255 million in research and development Money for the tilt Rotor aircraft in fiscal 1990. The Pentagon recently ordered the Navy to cancel production contracts for the Osprey although Congress had freed up More than $300 million in production Money for the aircraft that had been appropriated in fiscal 1989. And the associated press reported Friday that the Navy is seriously considering limiting purchases of its $1.2 billion Trident submarine to every other year. The Battle lines being drawn Between Congress and the administration Are obvious according to lawmakers and defense analysts interviewed in the last two weeks. In the past the administration has trimmed the defense budget by eliminating or stretching out conventional programs popular in Many districts while continuing funds for research and development of strategic programs. During the peacetime buildup of the Reagan administration. When few programs suffered there were few complaints. A in the last six to eight years there was a lot to go  said Rowland a member of the House armed services committee. But without a Clear threat from Eastern Europe and with pressure to reduce the defense budget parochial interests in Congress will clash with administration attempts to maintain a significant budget for strategic programs a your military priorities Are Wacky Quot said sen. Carl Levin. D-mich., a member of the Senate armed services committee. A where we re eliminating or prematurely terminating or stretching the production of useful. Modern conventional weapons systems in order to produce an my missile the fight will go on. The Battle will go on. This will not he  to a halt Dunn s Falls water Park in Lauderdale ing the recent cold snap when tempera Range Outlook however indicates warm Parks Waterfall is not expected to freeze county miss., came to a standstill Dur Tures hit All time record lows. The longer than Nornal conditions and the again this Winter