Spending Bill Approval May Be Delayed Until New Year (Byrd)

[DeepModem Mom]

New York Times:

Members of Congress return to the Capitol this week for what they hope is a brief appearance to try to unravel a spending snarl that could extend into January.

The House is expected to convene on Monday and approve an $820 billion measure that wraps seven unfinished spending bills into one. The chief complication is in the Senate, where the Republican leadership would like to pass the same measure on Tuesday without a formal roll call vote and then join the House in adjourning until Jan. 20.

That procedure is dependent on no lawmaker entering an objection, but Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, the senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said last week he intended to block the bill.

Mr. Byrd, other Democrats and a few Republicans are angry that concessions have been made to the White House on new overtime rules, media ownership and other issues. Spending watchdogs contend that the bill is stuffed with billions of dollars in pet projects for lawmakers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/08/politics/08SPEN.html

[dbt]

1. Fly on, Free Byrd!

:bounce:
dbt

[joanski01]

2. Right on, Byrd.

I think, after Byrd's objection, Frist will hold the bill over until next year. He wouldn't want to piss off his buddy Repuke senators by calling them back for a roll-call vote.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Hats off to Sen. Byrd

Why is it that Byrd and Kennedy are the only Dems fighting things tooth and nail? Daschle should step down as leader asap.

[0007]

4. Hang tough big Byrd!

[soup]

5. Let him know.

fax, phone, snail mail:
http://byrd.senate.gov/byrd_issues/byrd_contact/byrd_contact.html

or a quick e-mail:
http://byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Good idea -- I think Sen. Byrd draws strength from our support...

as he's referenced it on the Senate floor. Just called and left a message --

[Champion Jack]

7. Byrd, as usual, is doing a great job

sometimes it seems like he's the only one...