Spending Bill Nears Passage in the Senate

[NewJerseyDem]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/01/politics/01COST.html

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 — The largest emergency spending bill in the nation's history, pilloried for two months by opponents as too generous to Iraq, is quietly moving toward final Congressional approval on Monday as an almost complete victory for President Bush.

Shortly after midnight on Friday morning, the House approved the $87.5 billion bill for Iraq and Afghanistan on a vote of 298 to 121. Senate leaders said their chamber would approve the bill on a unanimous voice vote on Monday, indicating that despite lingering concerns Democrats no longer feel there is any point in casting a symbolic vote against it. The bill will then go to the president for his signature.