European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 6, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday March 6, 1990 the stars and stripes a Page 3oh, that �?~050�?T its the Bottom line House democrats differ on defense cuts by Dan Morgan the Washington Post Washington a at least five groups of House democrats with differing views about How much to Cut the defense budget for fiscal 1991 Are engaged in intense behind the scenes mane vering to influence the House budget committees decision on a defense spending figure. Key defense committees will determine How to spend the Money but the size of the Overall figure can ease or intensify pressure on them to Cut Back major weapons systems and reduce personnel. The figure also affects Domestic programs since president Bush has ruled out new taxes and every Dollar not spent on defense can theoretically be spent on nonmilitary activities or to Cut the deficit. The focus of the inter party lobbying is an item in the annual budget Resolution with the James Bondman name �?o050.�?� it is the Bottom line of All defense related spending including military construction and atomic weapons production. The fixing of a ooh five of a As it is called on Capitol Hill will be the first major Milestone in the process of adjusting the nations huge defense budget to a changing world. Whether the House democratic factions can unite will be the first test of the party a ability to come together on priorities for the Uncertain decade ahead. A ooh five of is critical a said rep. Barbara Boxer of California who with rep. Marty Russo of Illinois is leading an informal democratic group in the budget committee that favors Steep cuts in fiscal 1991 defense outlays. A if we want to do anything a feed the kids fight the drug War a there a got to be a shift of priorities. But this fight proves the Point in be always made a the democrats Are a very diverse  most democrats have indicated they want to trim the $303.25 billion in defense outlays proposed by president Bush. But disagreements among defense conservatives members with military bases or military contracts in their districts and Liberal reformers who favor a drastic shift in National priorities have set off a feverish round of private meetings and caucuses. The process by which the final figure will be determined Sheds Light on the internal politics of Capitol Hill much of which takes place behind closed doors through constantly shifting and sometimes overlapping alliances. Boxer who also co chairs the congressional military Reform caucus has her sights set on a 1991 defense figure of $289 billion a $14 billion less than the president requested. But rep. Norm Dicks of Washington the no. 2 Democrat on the House appropriations defense subcommittee wants a number closer to the presidents. Dicks congressional District is next door to the Headquarters of the Boeing co., a major contractor on the b-2 bomber. Dicks fears that too Low an 050 figure could jeopardize the b-2, Navy Home porting and other projects that Benefit his constituents. Dicks has forged an informal Alliance with two other key pro defense democrats rep. Marvin Leath of Texas who sits on the armed services and budget committees and rep. Dave Mccurdy of Oklahoma another senior member of armed services committee. Tinker fab in Mccurdy a District will be a maintenance Center for the b-2, which Many Liberal democrats Are targeting for cancellation this year. But Mccurdy insists that his interests in 3 gradual scaling Down of the 050 number Are not parochial. A the expectations have increased dramatically a he warned. A your concern is that you can to move As fast As some Are urging. The outlay savings Are Leon Panetta budget panel chairman difficult to achieve. We need time to prepare a Long term  boxers figure looks almost hawkish compared with proposals under study by two other informal groups playing a behind the scenes role. One is rep. Barney Franks a budget for a Strong american group. The Massachusetts Democrat favors outlays of $285 billion next year and predicts that of four big ticket weapons systems a the by b-2, my rail Garrison and midget Man missiles a two will be Cut to almost nothing and two others will take a big  Franks group includes outside disarmament organizations and peace activists. Its regular members Are reps. Boxer and Thomas Downey d-n.y., and they Are often joined by rep. Les Aucoin Dore. Congressional Black caucus chairman Ronald Dellums a Califi and rep. Charles Bennett a Fla. Downey has had his influential thursday morning defense and arms control group in operation for the past six years. The group has met the last two weeks but has not settled on an 050 number. Speaking for himself Downey said a you need to show up with a number like $275 billion $28 billion below Bush to really catch Peoples  none of the groups recommendations will be As significant As that of rep. Les Aspin d-wis., chairman of the House armed services committee. Aspinw a staff was at work last week on its final a views and estimates report which Aspin plans to hand budget committee chairman Leon Panetta d-calif., this week. A a in be told Panetta that whatever number he comes up with ill do my Best to help him a Aspin said. Few who know Aspin believe he will play such a passive Beverly Byron. Favors personnel strength role. He has already made Clear that like Mccurdy he is wary of deep cuts in 050 the first year of a defense slowdown. Aspin argues that Short term reductions Are harder to make than they seem because of the built in costs of de mobilizing personnel paying off contractors and closing bases. Terminating the b-2 bomber could save $30 billion by 1994, but the 1991 saving would amount to Only $500 million to $ 1 billion sources said. Also attending the meeting with Panetta this week will be rep. John Murtha d-pa., chairman of the House appropriations defense subcommittee. Murtha a former Marine is a firm opponent of cuts in s operations and maintenance an area where other democrats say huge cuts with immediate budgetary results could be made. So far the House leadership has been mostly listening members say. Earlier in the year democrats with conflicting views presented them to majority Leader Richard Gephardt do. They left agreeing to disagree for the time being sources said. The internal lobbying has intensified in the last 10 Days. Boxer said she Hopes to express her a full court concerns to Murtha in California on a tour of military installations that began at the end of last week. Boxers group presented its Case Friday to House speaker Thomas Foley a Wash. Mccurdy and others would like to nudge the cautious democratic leadership in the House toward embracing a Long term plan for the party with new priorities that make a coherent whole. But the fractious nature of the House democrats makes that difficult As differ Barney Frank. Supports a big hits John Murtha against some reductions Les Aspin. Wary of first year cuts fences Over the 050 number suggest. If the number reported out of Panet tags committee is too Low pro military democrats could Peel off and form an Alliance with republicans to fight the budget Resolution on the floor. Too High a figure could strengthen the hand of the doves in a floor fight. Downey said last week he expects Russo Panetta a Capitol Hill compatriot to offer an alternative Resolution. The Russo forces could join up with the congressional Black caucus which favors drastic defense cuts. Once the 050 number is set the struggle Over defense shifts to the armed services and appropriations committees which will consider the Fate of an array of major weapons systems. There democrats will be defending a Broad spectrum of interests. Rep. . Montgomery d-miss., one of Bush a friends will be pushing for More spending for the National guard and reserves. Rep. Beverly Byron d-md., chairman of the armed services subcommittee on personnel will be opposing strength cuts. Others will be concerned mainly with parochial interests such As bases or defense contractors. Even hawkish democrats from districts with heavy concentrations of military such As rep. . A a Bill Hefner of North Carolina who represents fort Bragg report rising sentiment for deep defense cuts. But that could change As the economic reality of base closings and contract cancellations becomes apparent. A a there a going to be big time Wheeling and dealing before the military budget is put to bed this year a said rep. Jim Slattery d-kan., a budget committee member. He has switched from supporting the b-2 to becoming an activist working among fellow democrats for its cancellation. Slattery a District is just across the Missouri River from Whiteman fab mo., scheduled to be the first installation of the b-2 Fleet. After co sponsoring legislation to terminate the b-2 in february Slattery said he received protesting Calls from officials of the Iron workers unions in Missouri and Kansas concerned Over the loss of hundreds of jobs related to construction of new facilities for the b-2s. Some democratic budget cutters could be undermined by their past support for local defense projects. Last year Downey pulled out All stops to preserve funding for the Navy a f-14d, the Grumman corp. Fighter that has generated thousands of jobs for his Long Island constituents and supporters. An iou left Over from that Battle commits him to continue the fight for the v-22 tilt Rotor aircraft program which could Cost $7 billion by 1994. Downey doubts this will hamper him. A a you re always somewhat compromised a he said. A a there a no such thing As being pure