House Democrats Decide ‘Air Foley’ Doesn’t Fly

WASHINGTON — Hit by flak from Administration officials and others, House Democratic leaders Wednesday grounded an effort to create a one-plane air force commanded by Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.).

The leaders dropped the plan to put a $19-million military jet under control of the Speaker after presidential spokesman Marlin Fitzwater called it a “foolish idea” and others ridiculed it as “Air Foley” and “Foley’s Royal Air Force.”

The proposal suddenly appeared in a compromise $285.8-billion defense spending measure crafted by House and Senate negotiators. Foley claimed to be surprised by the provision, which was tucked into the bill by Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), apparently without the knowledge of most other negotiators.

Murtha said that the military aircraft would give Foley needed protection from terrorists. Rep. Charles Wilson (D-Tex.), a chief advocate of the proposal, added that it would help lawmakers avoid flying corporate planes and thus would help them avoid conflict-of-interest charges.

Disposal of the plan means that lawmakers will continue the current practice of requesting a plane from the Air Force when one is needed.

The timing of the proposal was awkward for Foley, who is pushing a 33% pay raise and ethics package for House members in a vote scheduled for today.

The defense appropriation measure approved by the House and sent to the Senate for final action calls for spending nearly $286 billion in the fiscal year that began Oct. 1.

That represents a $3.4-billion increase over last year and is $2.4 billion less than President Bush requested.

The bill closely conforms to a funding authorization measure that won final congressional approval by the Senate Wednesday.

The $3.8 billion approved for “Star Wars,” the Strategic Defense Initiative, is a reduction of 22% from Bush’s request of $4.9 billion. Although Congress has slashed the “Star Wars” funding request each year beginning in 1986, this is the first time that the budget for the anti-missile research program has been reduced below the previous year’s level.

The legislation also provides $4.3 billion of the $4.7 billion requested to continue production of the B-2 Stealth bomber--enough to buy two planes in fiscal 1990 and components that could be used for five additional planes scheduled for inclusion in the fiscal 1991 budget.