European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 28, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ltd a  Al publication for the . Armeo forces Good morning vol. 49, no. 14 saturday april 28,1990 a a 25 Dally and sunday d 8693 a Robinson Aba Rookie of the year a Pago 27 m if a 1 Lam bowing to tradition a moslem boy takes a peek at the sea fit the most important islamic Festi of men bowed in prayer at Mccormick Val gets under Way. A month of fasting place in Chicago on thursday As eid Al will be followed by a three Day feast. Cheney says Congress lacks defense plans by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a in a pointed swipe at his former colleagues in Congress defense Secretary Dick Cheney complained Friday that lawmakers who Are bashing the Pentagon a current defense planning have failed to deliver on specific alternatives. A what 1 have heard consistently from Congress is a lot of bold talk about wanting to take Down the defense budget a Cheney said at a Pentagon news conference. A but i have yet to see them deliver in terms of being willing to Cut programs Cut bases reduce Force structures. A a it a easy to pontificate about what the Overall top line ought to be. But As soon As we get Down to the real nitty Gritty there a a noticeable Lack of any significant substantive plans on Capitol  Cheney spent most of thursday testifying before the House and Senate armed services committees about his plans to save almost $35 billion through 1997 by scaling Back four major aircraft programs. The targeted programs arc the b-2 strategic bomber the c-17 Long Range transport the a-12 attack aircraft and the Navy a advanced tactical fighter. That proposal went a Long Way toward mollify ing some critics on Capitol Hill who have said the Pentagon has not articulated a Long Range vision for cutting defense spending and reshaping the nations armed forces. But some lawmakers still seem unsatisfied. Rep. Los Aspin d-wis., outspoken chairman of the House armed services committee said further budget cuts Are needed adding that Cheney a budget planning is based on an unrealistic View defense Secretary Dick Cheney testifies. Of the soviet threat. Sen Sam Nunn d-ga., chairman of the Senate armed services committee recently suggested that the Pentagon a plans to Cut real growth in defense spending by 2 percent annually for the next five years is not enough and that As much As $75 billion More in cuts needs to be found. Numerous other lawmakers have floated their own budget cutting proposals with the most far reaching of them calling for cuts of As much As $25 billion in the fiscal 1991 budget. A the package we have is a sound see Cheney on Back Page higher go Bill benefits sought for by �?T92 by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a rising tuition and the expected removal of hundreds of thousands of service members Over the next few years May Lead to a hefty increase in i Bill benefits. Rep. Sonny Montgomery d-miss., chairman of the House veterans affairs committee has urged veterans Secretary Edward Derwinski to ask Congress to raise the maximum monthly Benefit to $400 for full time students As part of his 1992 budget proposal. Benefits under the program which has become known As the Montgomery i Bill after its chief architect have remained at $300 a month since the program began in july 1985. Meanwhile College costs have risen Between 5 percent and 12 percent a year Montgomery said in a letter to Derwinski. A it is important that the i Bill continue to be a Strong effective program a Montgomery said. His suggested increase he added a is reasonable and will o set the inflation in education costs that have occurred since the enactment of the  he said the additional Cost would be offset partially by the nearly $1 billion in accumulated contributions paid by service members since 1985. Recruits who sign up for the program pay $100 a month for their first 12 months of Active duty in return for later receiving up to $300 per month for a maximum of 36 months. A Montgomery aide said raising the i Bill benefits will become critical As the Pentagon prepares to Cut thousands of troops Over the next few years Many of them against their will. A the first and Foremost purpose of the i Bill program throughout its history has been to help service members readjust to civilian life a the aide said. Military advocacy groups have Strong Praise for Montgomery a initiative. Dick Johnson legislative affairs director for the non commissioned officers association noted the system has changed radically Over the years. Under the old i Bill which expired in 1977, Bene fits would allow a a Guy to gel out find on Campus housing maybe Nave his will work Pari Lime and he could expect to be a full time student until he graduated a Johnson said. A that Guy would never be Able to do that  he said. A i think we be misled people a bit on the value of the new i Bill compared to earlier versions of the  Johnson endorsed the proposed increase in benefits. It. Col. Otis Elam associate director of the Pentagon education policy office said military officials have discussed ways to improve the go Bill. A we recognize that cumulative inflation has eroded the benefits of the program a Elam said. One of the Pentagon a main concerns is involuntarily separated service members who had planned on haying a few More years on Active duty to finish their degrees. A we need to make sure that if we have a reduction in Force those people arc taken care of a lie said. A veterans department spokesman declined to see benefits on Back Page