Senate OKs $81 billion supplemental spending bill

[The Straight Story]

Senate OKs $81 billion supplemental spending bill
By Peter Cohn, CongressDaily


The Senate Thursday approved an $81.26 billion fiscal 2005 supplemental spending bill that is significantly different in some respects from the House version and the Bush administration request, particularly in the area of domestic appropriations. The vote was 99-0.
The measure primarily would fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as relief for Indian Ocean countries recovering from the Dec. 26 tsunami.

The White House is pressing for a swift agreement, but perhaps more difficult than reconciling funding priorities will be how GOP leaders handle divisive immigration matters. Talk of horse-trading already has begun.

The House and Senate Appropriations committees also want to put the supplemental behind them to focus on fiscal 2006 appropriations. New chairmen in both chambers have pledged a more efficient and transparent process than in previous years. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., is prepared to begin the markup process in early May under a target of $843 billion, with or without a budget resolution.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0405/042205cdam1.htm