Bush draws line on compromise over homeland labor rules
President Bush Monday renewed his demand that the Senate agree to give him the flexibility to ease existing employment rules for unionized employees who would become part of the Homeland Security Department, saying he will accept nothing less than the compromise plan introduced by Sens. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, and Zell Miller, D-Ga.
"It's a bill I can accept. It's a bill that will make America more secure," said Bush. "And anything less than that is a bill I cannot accept."
While the House has passed a bill with the flexibility Bush seeks, the Senate has not.
"The Senate is more interested in special interests in Washington and not interested in the security of the American people," Bush said at an appearance in New Jersey. "I will not accept a Department of Homeland Security that does not allow this president and future presidents to better keep the American people secure," he said, adding that he would not permit "the United States Senate to micromanage the process."
The Senate was expected Monday afternoon to reject a motion to shut down debate on the homeland security bill, a move that could extend debate on the bill into next week.
Senators from both parties hope to approve the bill quickly, but have been at loggerheads over the employment rules. That issue is expected to reach the Senate floor mid-week after senators dispense with an amendment from Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., that would require Congress to approve each step of the administration's implementation of the new department - and a provision from Governmental Affairs Chairman Lieberman and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that would create an independent commission to investigate last year's terrorist attacks.
Those two amendments will be subject to final votes this afternoon and Tuesday.
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