Hollywood producers aren’t the only ones working on a sequel to “Star Wars.” House Representatives are finalizing their own plan to beef up military spending in a sequel to President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (now renamed the Ballistic Missile Defense program).

On May 23, the House is scheduled to consider H.R. 3144, the Defend America Act of 1996. The bill calls for a system to defend the nation against an attack by ballistic missiles, but does not specify how much funding would be available for this purpose. Based on plans and estimates by the Defense Department, the cost of complying with H.R. 3144 would total $10 billion over the next five years, or about $7 billion more than is currently programmed for national missile defense. Through 2010, total acquisition cost would range from $31 billion to $60 billion.

Taxpayers for Common $ense has endorsed an amendment by Reps. John Spratt (D-SC) and Ron Dellums (D-CA) on H.R. 3144, that would save taxpayers $7 billion over the next five years. According to CBO figures, the amendment would save between $31 billion and $60 billion by the year 2010.

World’s most expensive plane grounded

On May 10, the Air Force silently suspended flights of its $2.2 billion B-2 “Stealth” bombers, after discovering a cracked part during an inspection. Air Force public affairs admitted the news only after it had leaked to the press, claiming that the clamp problem was small and the planes were still being tested. This setback comes after a 1995 report by the General Accounting Office which concluded that the B-2 design was unable to meet important mission requirements.

House cuts funding for overseas defense

By an overwhelming majority of 353-62, the House passed an amendment which asks for increased financial support from America’s allies for the cost of foreign U.S. military presence. The amendment, sponsored by Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Richard Gephardt (D-MO) and others, is estimated to save at least $11.5 billion over the next six