DATE: Wednesday, November 19, 1997          TAG: 9711190518

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 

DATELINE: WASHINGTON                        LENGTH:   28 lines

CLINTON SIGNS DEFENSE BILL THAT COVERS ALL NEW JETS, PLUS AN AEGIS-CLASS DESTROYER

President Clinton signed a $268 billion defense bill Tuesday even though it endangers his campaign promise to save jobs at two closing military bases in Texas and California.

White House officials would not elaborate on Clinton signing the bill, and he made no statement about it.

The legislation gives Clinton the power to kill the B-2 bomber program, requires him to give Congress a detailed report before extending U.S. troop deployment to Bosnia, fully funds the F-22, F/A-18 E and F and Joint Strike Fighters, and adds $720 million for a fourth Aegis destroyer.

Before the 1996 election, Clinton promised voters in Texas and California that he would preserve jobs at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, Calif., and Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, by allowing private contractors to continue on site after the bases closed.

The legislation he signed Tuesday does not allow that, although it does provide for an open bidding process for some military maintenance work. KEYWORDS: DEFENSE BUDGET

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