Washington Digest
Senate OKs War Funding, Bush Pledges Veto
Last updated Saturday, May 24, 2008 8:07 PM CDT in News
By Sara Spivey & Aaron Sadler
The Morning News
WASHINGTON - The Senate ignored a White House veto warning and approved an Iraq war spending bill last week that also included billions of dollars for domestic programs and veterans' benefits.
The bill included President Bush's request for $165 billion to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through next spring. That portion passed 70-26.
Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, both D-Ark., voted for the bill.
The Senate added a separate package of domestic spending, bringing the total cost to more than $250 billion.
The domestic package included $51 billion for veterans' education benefits that supporters said would assure those serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars could attend even the best state universities as thanks for their service.
It also included additional funds to extend unemployment benefits for 13 weeks, to provide heat subsidies for the poor, and money for road and bridge repair, Food and Drug Administration research, law enforcement and federal prisons.
Supporters said the funding fulfilled urgent needs. Critics said they were wasteful. On the veterans spending, critics said the benefits were so generous they would prompt service members to leave the military rather than re-enlist.
Over President Bush's objections, 25 Republicans voted with the Democrats, passing that portion, 75-22.
Lincoln and Pryor voted for it.
On another Iraq matter, the Senate struck down 63-34 a provision that would have given the military guidance on conducting the Iraq war and mandated withdrawal of troops from Iraq by June 2009.
Lincoln and Pryor voted to give the military a withdrawal timetable.
Farm Bill
Republicans in Congress abandoned President Bush for the second week in a row and helped override the president's veto of a $290 billion farm bill.
The veto override marked only the second time in Bush's seven years in office that Congress overrode a veto.
Bush said the bill was too costly and didn't do enough to limit payments to farmers.
Despite the anticipated veto, both the House and Senate a week earlier overwhelmingly approved the five-year legislation to reauthorize crop subsidies, food stamps and conservation and nutrition programs.
Last week, the Senate voted 82-13 to override the veto. The vote in the House was 316-108. A two-thirds majority in both houses was needed for the override.
First District Rep. Marion Berry, D-Gillett, 3rd District Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, 4th District Rep. Mike Ross, D-Prescott, and 2nd District Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, voted to override the veto.
Lincoln and Pryor voted for the override.
Defense Spending
The House loaded a $600 billion defense spending bill with provisions intended to change some U.S. policies in Iraq, prompting a White House veto threat.
The bill authorizes Pentagon spending for 2009. It includes a 3.9 percent pay raise for the military. It was approved 384-23.
Berry, Boozman, Ross and Snyder voted for it.
But amendments to the legislation give Congress some influence over war policy. The White House has said the executive branch makes policy decisions.
The disputed provisions include one that requires Congress to authorize any agreements with Iraq that obligate the U.S. military to defend that country. It passed 234-183.
Berry, Ross and Snyder voted to force Congressional approval for such agreements. Boozman voted no.
Another, approved by a 240-168 vote, prohibits using private contractors as interrogators. Berry, Ross and Snyder voted for it. Boozman voted against it.
By a 218-192 tally, the House voted to require videotaping of the interrogation of terrorist suspects. Berry, Ross and Snyder voted yes. Boozman voted no.
Veterans' Bills
Two bills designed to help the nation's veterans and sponsored by Boozman passed the House without opposition last week.
Boozman's "Veterans Benefit Awareness Act" orders the Department of Veterans Affairs to advertise nationally the benefits available to veterans and their dependents.
Another measure requires the VA to conduct a 20-year study of vocational rehabilitation and education programs provided to seriously injured veterans. The results would help Congress and the VA make better management decisions, Boozman said.
Boozman is the top Republican on a House veterans affairs subcommittee.
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