SQUEAL FACTOR Perhaps the budget surplus is to blame for all the pet projects that were tacked on to the $288 billion defense bill after its Senate approval. Smart Trucks may well be worth $3.5 million. But, as protesters John McCain and Phil Gramm pointed out, some others smell a bit porky:
--$4 million to track California desert tortoise population
--$8.5 million for the Ernest Gallo alcohol research center
--$2.8 million to spruce up the office furniture at the Defense Language Institute
--$15 million to protect Revolutionary War boats at the bottom of Lake Champlain from invading zebra mussels
--$3.5...
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