GovernmentExecutive.com

The Senate returns next week to debate the contentious fiscal 06 war and hurricane relief emergency supplemental package. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has carved out two weeks of floor time to debate and vote on the provisions because fiscal conservatives have objected to the $106.5 billion price tag.

Frist originally scheduled one week of floor debate for the package. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and other conservatives are expected to challenge several provisions that they consider "pork projects" and not related to emergency funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Democrats are expected to offer numerous amendments to increase spending for hot-button election-year issues like veteran's health care and energy independence. The Senate reconvenes Monday for morning hour business, but votes are not expected to begin until Tuesday on the measure.

If the Senate approves the $106.5 billion package -- nearly $15 billion more than President Bush requested and the House passed -- the Senate version is likely to face strong opposition from the House over the extra spending when the two chambers negotiate a compromise.

COMMENTS

• The Senate and the house should not be debating this appropriation at all! They should pass a law that the war will end by the end of the fiscal year 2005 (Oct. 1, 2006) and the appropriation will be reduced accordingly. This is an immoral and unjust war and should never have been started on the pile of lies fostered by the president and his staff. We have lost more than 2,000 young people because of Bush’s lies and Congress is part of the problem. Congress should vote to end the problem and not allow the president to continue this ridiculous war against Iraq and Afghanistan! Taxpayer Posted April 21, 2006 8:07 AM