Fred, also from the fleet PAO, don't have link, sorry for length. Edit/delete at will.
NEWPORT NEWS -- The George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier needs $869.9 million between 2006 and 2008 to cover cost overruns and other increases encountered during the ship's construction, according to details of the budget proposal President Bush recently submitted to Congress. If lawmakers agree to grant the money, the total government price tag for the nuclear-powered carrier, now the biggest project under way at Northrop Grumman Newport News, would rise to $5.89 billion, a 17.3 percent increase over last year's projection of $5.02 billion. The Navy said in its request that the $869.9 million needed for the Bush is necessary "to compensate for ... cost increases resulting from unbudgeted escalation funds, increased labor hours to construct the ship, increased material costs and to cover maximum government liability." That's a change from a year ago - when the Navy didn't anticipate the Bush needed any more money before its delivery to the Navy in 2008.
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