European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 10, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday March 10, 1990 the stars and stripes a Page 5 Era tied program seeks 21 % budget Rise by the Cox news service Washington a an obscure army marksmanship program with close ties to the National Rifle association is asking Congress for a 21 percent budget increase despite the Pentagon a admission that it cannot document the need for the program. The unusual request has put the spotlight on a program traditionally buried in the budgets Back pages and is raising eyebrows in a Congress where no one is in the mood to hear requests for More Money. The program is seeking $5.7 million for fiscal 1991, a $1 million increase Over the 1990 level. The funds Are used to promote Rifle training through civilian shooting clubs a most of which Are affiliated with the Era to administer the Sale of obsolete army Rilles and ammunition to club members and to sponsor shooting matches. A appearances Are eve7thing in our business gentlemen. If we can to Cut this program what on Earth can we Cut a rep. Peter Stark d-calif., asked members of the House armed services subcommittee on readiness on thursday. The army a civilian marksmanship program established in 1903 to encourage marksmanship with the Springfield Rifle has been scrutinized before and survived. The general accounting office the investigative Arm of Congress concluded in a study that the need for the activity is a highly this year however the Battle Over the programs funding will be carried out in a bigger Arena that includes severe budget constraints and the debate Over semiautomatic assault weapons. The Issue is also politically sensitive. The powerful Era has a close partnership with the marksmanship program and traditionally opposes members of Congress who question it. A the program has been criticized As being nothing More than a subsidy for the Era a said subcommittee chairman rep. Earl Hutto a Fla. �?o1 have 70,000 retired veterans in my District around fort Benning a said rep. Richard Ray d-ga., a and i get a lot of mail from them asking Why we re paying for such a the army offered Little defense for the program but cited its general contribution to firearms safety and marksmanship. The programs original goal was to identify and help train skilled riflemen to be called up in the event of War said Deputy Secretary of the army Michael w. Owen. But admitted Owen a the army has not identified a direct Reliance on the marksmanship program for col. . Gilchrist detailed by the army to run the activity said a budget increase is being sought because that is what is required to do the Job. A was to whether this program is a proper expenditure. Only you members of Congress have the right to answer that he said. The program has remained essentially the same since the 1920s. According to Gao division chief Richard Davis. A a it a Clear to us the usefulness of this program is highly questionable. No one was Able to Tell us its usefulness a Davis told the committee. During fiscal 1989. The program sold 6.000 my Garand rifles to its members at savings sometimes of hundreds of dollars below Market value. In addition the program issued Over 37 million rounds of ammunition free to club members. As of last september the program had on loan to club members or in storage approximately 24,000 weapons the Gao found. A a if there arc a thousand Points of Light out there let s let the Era provide a couple of them and get rid of this Stark voice inside Stormie helps her keep the Faith Stormie Jones and her Mother Lois Purcell answer questions at news the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. World no a Quot ire billed 14 military prisoners trapped in a tiny a 8uarchouse at the Sandia special weapons base in Albuquerque,30 years ago today. New Nln a a men Kennedy d-mass., received More votes in the history spa re a Mary than any democratic presidential hopeful in the nation�?Ts20 years ago today. Or Csc do f a actress Jane Fonda and some 85 other protesters were indians l -w.,s and fort Lawton both in Washington state As they joined a ins who were claiming Federal land 0 years ago today. In a v stud Cal militants refused to surrender the 50 american a report int re in s a it to uti onary Council As promised. A militant spokesman denied Llian one of the captives had tried to commit suicide. Pittsburgh apr the worlds longest surviving heart liver transplant patient said thursday she a bouncing Back following her second liver transplant. A i guess its just 12-Ycar-old Stormie Jones said during a news conference at children a Hospital of Pittsburgh. A a there a a thing in the Back of your head that says a get a cuddling a stuffed Koala Bear that accompanied her to the operating room last month Stormie Hopes to return to her Home in the fort Worth. Texas suburb of White settlement within a month. Once Home she said shed like to take a Bath and go to bed. Stormie. Dressed in sweat pants and a children a Hospital sweat shirt teasingly sparred with her Mother Lois Purcell during the news conference. Speaking softly she said she disliked being in the Public Eye and Media interviews. Although she and her Mother arc optimistic that her body will accept the new liver Stormie said she understood there a a Chance of rejection within six years. A they told me i might be having a Little rejection which made me mad a she said. Her Mother credits Stormie a seemingly fast recovery to fk-506, an experimental anti rejection drug developed in Japan. Researchers say the drug is More powerful and causes fewer Side effects than cyclosporine. The anti rejection Medicine the girl had been taking since her historic heart liver transplant on feb. 14. 1984. Stormie said she had hoped the first round of transplants would be her last. Quot i thought i Wasny to going to have any More problems again but i guess i was wrong a said the sixth grader. Stormie received a second liver feb. 20 because the first transplanted Organ was damaged by hepatitis caused by an unknown virus. A it hurts to Sec her go through this her Mother said. The Day after her second transplant. Stormie returned to the operating room to Stop internal bleeding which occurs in about 10 percent of All patients receiving a second transplant. A i thought. Now what Are you taking out a Stormie said. Stormie has been playing with other children at the Reading books and building a wooden doll House. She said she is trying to write a Book for other children about her experiences but has so far completed Only a Page partly because she does no to like to write. The girl said she s forcing herself to obey doctors orders and take Short strolls around the Hospital so she can return Home soon. The Many cards and Good wishes that continue to pour in a also help me get up and she said. Her first transplant was needed to control the effects of a rare disease that left her cholesterol Levels 10 times greater than Normal and damaged her heart. Stormie a donor heart has remained health doctors said. Big Apple yanks the License of a really bad Apple cabbie new York apr a new York City cab Driver who ran up 119 taxi Rule violations in Only a few years behind the wheel has surrendered his License and taxi officials said a Hack of his Caliper would not be seen in the City again. Quot in the future no Driver will Ever get the Chance to approach the level that he reached a Jack Lusk chairman of the City taxi and limousine commission said of the Driver Vehbi Gunduz. Under a new policy approved by the City Council a cab Drivers License can now be suspended after two serious Rule violations and revoked after three. With a revocation hearing less than 24 hours away Gunduz surrendered his Hacks License thursday and agreed to wait one year before reapplying. If he reapplied his application would be re viewed Lusk said. A this Guy was like the alligators in the new York sewers that people talk about a Lusk said. Ride for ride Gunduz was probably the City a worst cabbie. According to taxi commission records he insulted bullied and threatened passengers dispatchers and inspectors. He overcharged riders denied them receipts and refused to take them where they wanted to go. His cab was filthy his trunk a mess and his Hack License As hard to find As a taxi on a Rainy night authorities said. His own lawyer Michael Stone described him As a an individual who apparently has Many Many the Best he could say about Gunduz s record was this a the never has attacked a member of the
