Senate votes to take up homeland security bill

The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to take up legislation creating a 170,000-employee Homeland Security Department, averting a showdown with Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.

Byrd argued that the Senate should take more time to consider the proposal and cautioned against rushing it through the chamber.

"The president's proposal has been barreling through Congress like a Mack truck, threatening to run over anyone who dares to stand in its way," Byrd said on the floor before the vote.

The vote clears the way for what promises to be an intense debate over creating the new Cabinet-level department.

In debate before the vote, Republicans and Democrats said the key point of friction would be over a provision that would give the head of the new department the ability to undercut current civil service laws.

President Bush sought to rally his troops Tuesday during a meeting of Republican leaders at the White House. Bush believes the Senate bill does not grant the new Cabinet secretary sufficient "flexibility" to hire, fire or move employees.