- Oct 9, 1999
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Defense Spending Delayed in Congress
By ALAN FRAM, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - A $6.5 billion measure financing the military's immediate health care, energy and other costs won't move through Congress until at least next month after it became entangled in the Senate battle over broadening the rights of patients.
Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., accused Democrats of rushing to finish the patients' rights bill to ``help trial lawyers, while holding our nation's security and our armed forces hostage.''
But Anita Dunn, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said it was Republicans who have held hostage ``every American family who believes that doctors and not big insurance companies should make medical decisions.''
Daschle was holding back the defense legislation until the patients' rights bill was completed or Republicans agreed to limit amendments to the health measure. His goal was to increase pressure on Republicans to finish the patients legislation, which is a top Democratic priority.
But as the more than two-week-long debate on the patients' bill continued into Thursday evening, the GOP-controlled House completed its legislative business and most representatives left town for lawmakers' week-long July 4 recess.
That means it will be impossible for Congress to send a final defense spending bill to President Bush (news - web sites) at least until the House and Senate return to work the second week in July.
The House passed the spending measure on June 20, while the Senate's version has only been approved by the chamber's Appropriations Committee. The two would have to work out a compromise bill that would be sent to Bush.
The House's departure also seemed to undermine the Republican argument that Democrats alone were to blame for delaying the spending legislation.
Some Republicans complained that the delayed legislation would mean the Pentagon (news - web sites) would have to begin limiting training, repairs and other activities.
Democrats discounted that, arguing that the military could move money around within its budget until the spending measure is completed.
While most of the spending bill would be for the Pentagon, it also contained funds for cooling and heating aid for the poor, for the Treasury Department (news - web sites) to process and mail tax-rebate checks, and other programs.
Linkage
By ALAN FRAM, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - A $6.5 billion measure financing the military's immediate health care, energy and other costs won't move through Congress until at least next month after it became entangled in the Senate battle over broadening the rights of patients.
Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., accused Democrats of rushing to finish the patients' rights bill to ``help trial lawyers, while holding our nation's security and our armed forces hostage.''
But Anita Dunn, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said it was Republicans who have held hostage ``every American family who believes that doctors and not big insurance companies should make medical decisions.''
Daschle was holding back the defense legislation until the patients' rights bill was completed or Republicans agreed to limit amendments to the health measure. His goal was to increase pressure on Republicans to finish the patients legislation, which is a top Democratic priority.
But as the more than two-week-long debate on the patients' bill continued into Thursday evening, the GOP-controlled House completed its legislative business and most representatives left town for lawmakers' week-long July 4 recess.
That means it will be impossible for Congress to send a final defense spending bill to President Bush (news - web sites) at least until the House and Senate return to work the second week in July.
The House passed the spending measure on June 20, while the Senate's version has only been approved by the chamber's Appropriations Committee. The two would have to work out a compromise bill that would be sent to Bush.
The House's departure also seemed to undermine the Republican argument that Democrats alone were to blame for delaying the spending legislation.
Some Republicans complained that the delayed legislation would mean the Pentagon (news - web sites) would have to begin limiting training, repairs and other activities.
Democrats discounted that, arguing that the military could move money around within its budget until the spending measure is completed.
While most of the spending bill would be for the Pentagon, it also contained funds for cooling and heating aid for the poor, for the Treasury Department (news - web sites) to process and mail tax-rebate checks, and other programs.
Linkage
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