Defense bill shelving seen as face-saver for Bush

[sabra]

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http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050727-101303-8382r

Defense bill shelving seen as face-saver for Bush

The Washington Times

WASHINGTON -- Senate Republican leaders pulled the plug on the defense bill yesterday, rather than face a host of votes on base closings, veterans benefits and the administration's detainee policy that could have embarrassed President Bush.

That decision came just moments after the Senate voted 98-0 to make sure that the Boy Scouts of America will be able to continue holding camping events on U.S. military bases. The vote was an amendment to the massive defense bill, which authorizes nearly $450 billion in spending for fiscal year 2006.

But then the entire bill came to a halt when Republicans pushed a cloture vote, which would have limited debate and made the contentious amendments out of order. The 50-48 vote to end debate fell 10 votes short of the 60 needed, and rather than allow a showdown with the president, Republican leaders withdrew the bill and went instead to a measure protecting gun manufacturers from lawsuits.

"There are lots of roadblocks right now, barriers being thrown up, on a very important bill," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Republican, on the floor. "I do look forward to coming back and looking at that bill and passing that bill."
Democrats said it was about saving the administration from defeat and said Mr. Frist was choosing special interests over the troops.


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[Deep13]

1. They stopped debate on this to vote on an NRA pet project.

:wtf:

It was the bill to deprive states of the right to regulate their own tort laws when applied to firearm manufacturers.

[damntexdem]

2. The Bushistas are no longer having it all their own way.

Let's see whether this can extend to Roberts, to Bolton, and ultimately to Congressional hearings on Traitorgate.