Procurement: June 3, 2000

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The military asked Congress for an extra $15.5 billion for "unfunded priorities". Congress has (through the committee stage, at least) provided only $4.5 billion, openly denouncing the military for "gamesmanship". Congress has become convinced that the military spends money on non-priority items in the conviction that Congress would then restore the priority accounts. Congress isn't buying military denials. The military asked for $700 million for recruiting and retention, but the House provided only $200 million and the Senate provided nothing. Both said that the Pentagon had deliberately underfunded its bonus programs "knowing" that Congress would make up the difference, and that such gamesmanship must be punished so the military will not repeat it.--Stephen V Cole