The Nation : House Approves $282 Billion for Defense

The House approved a $282-billion fiscal 1989 defense bill that included funds for the Administration’s “Star Wars” anti-missile program but continued for a fourth straight year a leveling-off of President Reagan’s military buildup. The vote was 360 to 53. The bill, which now goes to the Senate, represents about a 4% cut in purchases of military weapons systems, while increasing military pay and money for operation and maintenance. Together with other money bills, the defense measure would provide a total of $299.6 billion for military and intelligence activities in the year that begins Oct. 1, essentially a freeze on defense spending for the fourth straight year. The $3.5 billion in development money for “Star Wars” is a reduction from the current year’s $3.9 billion and far below the Administration’s request for 1989 of $4.8 billion. Military personnel would get a 4% pay increase under the bill.