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Washington Digest: Another war funding bill passes Monday, Jun 23, 2008 By Tony Batt Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - The House voted last week to spend $162 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through the early part of next year. The legislation also includes $63 billion for the college education of veterans, $8 billion for a 13-week extension of unemployment insurance and $2.6 billion to help flood victims in the Midwest. In a parliamentary maneuver to allow anti-war lawmakers to vote against spending money in Iraq and Afghanistan, the legislation was split into two amendments. The war funding amendment passed by a vote of 268-155. The amendment for domestic programs, including veterans' education, was adopted by a vote of 416-12. Reps. Marion Berry, D-Gillett, John Boozman, R-Rogers, Mike Ross, D-Prescott, and Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, voted for the war funding amendment. Berry, Boozman, Ross and Snyder also voted for the domestic spending amendment. Surveillance bill passes A bill that would dismiss lawsuits against telecommunications companies for monitoring phone calls without a warrant passed the House by a vote of 293-129. Residents of foreign countries who may be communicating with people in the United States could be the subjects of warrantless surveillance, according to the legislation. The bill aims to preserve the civil liberties of American citizens without blocking federal intelligence agencies from tracking and preventing terrorist activity. Civil liberties groups already have sued telecommunications companies for participating in warrantless surveillance requested by the White House. But if the companies submit "substantial evidence" that they received written assurances from the Bush administration that the warrantless surveillance program was legal and authorized by the president, all lawsuits against them would be nullified. Berry, Boozman, Ross and Snyder voted for the surveillance bill. Housing bill saved The Senate voted 70-11 to reject efforts to delay a housing bill until two senators are investigated for loans they received from the controversial lender Countrywide. Sens. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., reportedly received favorable mortgage deals from Countrywide, which has been hit hard by the mortgage foreclosure crisis. Both senators have denied any wrongdoing. The bill includes a $300 billion expansion of insurance programs run by the Federal Housing Administration to help struggling borrowers refinance their mortgages. The White House has threatened to veto the bill because it includes $4 billion in federal grants to help states buy and restore foreclosed properties. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., voted to proceed with the housing bill. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., voted present. Tax breaks blocked Supporters of extending tax breaks, including a deduction for state sales taxes, came up short again in the Senate. The Senate voted 52-44 to begin debate on tax breaks, but 60 votes were required. Earlier this month, the vote was 50-44. The hold-up centers on whether offsets to raise federal revenue should be used to pay for the tax breaks. Advocates of the bill support offsets, saying they would prevent the federal deficit from growing. Opponents argue offsets are the same as new taxes. Lincoln and Pryor voted to begin the debate on tax breaks. Farm bill becomes law The House and Senate voted to override President Bush's veto of a five-year farm bill that will cost $289 billion. Among other things, the bill will increase funding for food stamps, expand conservation programs and offer new incentives for alternative energy. The White House complained the bill was too expensive. The House voted 317-109 to override the veto, and the Senate followed up with a vote of 80-14. Berry, Boozman, Ross and Snyder voted to override the president's veto of the farm bill. Lincoln and Pryor voted to override the president's veto of the farm bill. |
