Senators again vote to stay course

WASHINGTON -- After staying in session all night, the Senate rejected legislation to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq within 120 days and to remove almost all of them by April 30, 2008.

The Senate voted 52-47 for the withdrawal amendment, but 60 votes were required to end debate and move to a final decision.

The debate grew more heated after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., forced senators to remain on call throughout Tuesday night so the vote could occur Wednesday morning.

Reid and other Democrats said the overnight session was necessary to draw attention to the Republican filibuster against withdrawing U.S. troops from a misguided military mission in Iraq.

Republicans scoffed at Reid's tactics, which they described as a waste of time. They said Congress should not meddle in military affairs, and instead allow the troop surge ordered by President Bush to work.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., voted against the amendment calling for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

Although he supported the amendment, Reid voted against it to preserve his right as majority leader to call it up again for another vote.

EDUCATION BILL APPROVED

The Senate voted 78-18 to pass an education bill that would cut more than $18 billion in federal subsidies for banks and private companies providing student loans. Instead, the money would be used to boost financial aid to students and college graduates.

Reid voted for the education bill.

Ensign voted against it.

Before final passage, the key vote came on an amendment by Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., to restore $2.4 billion of subsidy reductions.

The amendment was rejected by a 62-35 vote.

Supporters of restoring subsidies said lenders provide more options for students seeking financial aid than government loans do.

Opponents argued money from subsidies would be better spent on Pell grants and scholarships.

Ensign voted to restore lender subsidies.

Reid voted against restoring lender subsidies.

HOUSE PASSES LABOR, HEALTH AND EDUCATION BILL

The House voted 276-140 to pass a $607 billion spending bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Reps. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Jon Porter, R-Nev., voted for the bill.

Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., voted against it.

Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., sought to amend the bill so that it would not include any money for Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the country.

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., supported the amendment and called Planned Parenthood a "death-dealing organization."

Opponents argued that cutting off Planned Parenthood, which received $311 million in fiscal 2007, would deprive women of an important health resource.

The Pence amendment failed by a vote of 231-189.

Heller and Porter voted for the Pence amendment.

Berkley voted against it.