Waterboarding issue overcome

WASHINGTON -- After seeing his nomination almost derailed because of waterboarding, retired judge Michael Mukasey was confirmed as U.S. attorney general last week by a vote of 53-40 in the Senate.

Waterboarding is an interrogation technique that makes prisoners feel like they are drowning.

While Mukasey, 66, described waterboarding as "repugnant," he wouldn't say the technique is illegal.

Opponents argued Mukasey was unacceptable because of his refusal to acknowledge waterboarding is torture.

Mukasey supporters described the waterboarding issue as a diversion and said the former federal judge from New York was the best hope to steady a troubled Justice Department.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., voted for Mukasey's confirmation.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., voted against Mukasey.

VETO OVERRIDDEN

For the first time in almost seven years in the White House, President Bush saw one of his vetoes overridden by Congress.

After the House voted 361-54 to reject Bush's veto of a $23 billion water resources bill, the Senate followed with a 79-14 vote against the president.

The measure includes money for flood-control projects particularly for coastal Louisiana, the Florida Everglades and the Mississippi River.

Bush objected that many of the projects are unnecessary.

Advocates of the measure said it would provide long overdue improvements to the nation's infrastructure.

Reid voted to override Bush's veto.

Ensign voted against overriding Bush.

Reps. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Dean Heller and Jon Porter, both R-Nev., voted to override Bush's veto.

INSURANCE BILL PASSED

The House voted 258-155 to bolster homeowners' insurance in the case of natural disasters.

The measure would allow state insurance funds to be included in a National Catastrophe Consortium to protect against losses from hurricanes, earthquakes and other disasters.

Sponsors said that would reduce expensive homeowners' insurance for residents of states likely to suffer natural catastrophes.

President Bush issued a veto threat, saying it would create an unfair subsidy for a few state insurance programs.

Berkley voted for the bill.

Heller and Porter voted against it.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL OK'D

Denying employment to homosexuals would be prohibited under a bill that passed the House by a vote of 235-184.

The legislation extends a ban already in place to prevent discrimination against workers based on race, sex, religion and disability.

Advocates of the bill said it would advance civil rights. Critics complained it would increase lawsuits.

Berkley and Porter voted for the bill.

Heller voted against it.

EDUCATION, HEALTH BILL PASSED

Defying another veto threat, the House and Senate approved a spending bill that includes $150.7 billion to support education, health, and job training.

Bush administration officials said the bill is too expensive, exceeding the president's request by $9.8 billion.

Democratic leaders in the Senate sought to pressure Bush into signing the bill by adding a spending measure for veterans.

The Senate voted 47-46 to combine the two measures, but 60 votes were needed to overcome an objection by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.

Reid voted to combine the veterans bill with the education, health and job training bill.

Ensign voted against combining the bills.

After rejecting the combination, the Senate voted 56-37 for the education, health and job training bill.

Reid voted for the bill.

Ensign voted against it.

The House followed with a 274-141 vote for the legislation.

Berkley and Porter voted for the bill.

Heller voted against it.

PERU PACT APPROVED

The House voted 285-132 to approve a free-trade agreement with Peru, which preserves Peru's duty-free access to the United States and eventually removes Peru's tariffs on U.S. products.

Peru sold $5.9 billion last year to the United States while buying $2.9 billion in U.S. exports.

The White House supported the agreement as part of its free-trade agenda.

Opponents argued free trade is increasing the outsourcing of American jobs.

Heller and Porter voted for the trade agreement with Peru.

Berkley voted against it.