Senate approves Iraq war spending bill

WASHINGTON -- The Senate ignored President Bush's veto warning and approved an Iraq war spending bill last week that 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. John Ensign, R-Nev., and Harry Reid, D-Nev., voted against 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 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.

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.

Reid voted for it. Ensign voted against it.

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.

Ensign and Reid voted not to give the military a withdrawal timetable.

FARM BILL VETO OVERRIDDEN

Republicans in Congress abandoned President Bush for the second week in a row and helped override his 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.

Reps. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Jon Porter, R-Nev., voted to override the veto. Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., voted against the override.

Reid voted for the override. Ensign voted against it.

Opponents raised some question as to whether the vote was valid, since lawmakers discovered a portion of the bill had been omitted because of a printing error.

Supporters said the error would not affect the bill's legality.

HOUSE PASSES DEFENSE BILL

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.

Berkley, Heller and Porter voted for it.

But amendments to the legislation give Congress some influence over war policy. Bush administration officials have 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.

Berkley voted to require congressional approval for such agreements. Heller and Porter voted no.

Another amendment, approved by a 240-168 vote, prohibits using private contractors as interrogators. Berkley voted for it. Heller and Porter voted against it.

By a 218-192 tally, the House voted to require videotaping of the interrogation of terrorist suspects. Berkley voted yes. Heller and Porter voted no.