The one that Bush is threating to veto. . . I found it interesting:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050406J.shtml<snip>
The bill is now about $14 billion more than President Bush wants. That means items such as
$4 billion in farm disaster aid and $1 billion in state grants not requested by Bush may have to be dropped during House-Senate negotiations.
Also at risk are Senate add-ons such as
$1.1 billion in aid to the Gulf Coast seafood industry; $648 million for port security; and $1.9 billion to secure U.S. borders and waters. In trouble, too, may be Bush's effort to boost the budget for New Orleans flood control projects to $3.7 billion.
The bill now totals $108.9 billion. But that includes
$430 million for veterans' medical care that would become available only if Bush submitted an official request.
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Ten Republicans joined most Democrats in passing
a plan by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., to provide $289 million to compensate health professionals, emergency responders and other early recipients of experimental flu vaccines in the event they are injured. The overall bill contains $65.7 billion for war operations and $28.8 billion for hurricane relief, including
grants to states to build and repair housing and $3.7 billion for levees and flood control projects. During action last week in the full Senate, Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., succeeded in
diverting $1.9 billion in Pentagon funds to border security needs such as new aircraft and patrol boats. On Tuesday, lawmakers added about $1.7 billion for
levees and other flood control projects in the New Orleans areas.
But unlike Bush's request last week, this money for flood control would not be offset by cutting the government's chief disaster relief fund.
Kennedy also succeeded Wednesday, over the objections of the State Department, in directing that
$105 million in economic aid go to private U.S. groups that help Iraqis build democratic institutions. The Bush administration says it already has substantial dollars going to such organizations. Kennedy's move probably will not survive the House-Senate negotiations.
Also Wednesday, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., added $60 million for
U.N. peacekeeping efforts in Sudan's Darfur region. His plan was financed by a companion cut to money for the huge U.S. Embassy project in Baghdad.
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