The Senate today, by a 96-1 vote, cleared the $93.4 billion conference report on the VA-HUD appropriations bill, thereby sending the measure to the White House, where President Clinton is expected to sign it.
With less than 36 hours to go until the continuing resolution funding the federal government expires, Congress has now cleared six of the necessary 13 annual spending bills. To date, Clinton has signed two of those six-the Military Construction and Energy and Water measures.
Clinton Wednesday night vetoed the Agriculture appropriations bill because "both the structure of the money and the amount were inadequate," said White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart.
However, Lockhart hinted there may be room for compromise, saying the White House was looking to Democrats to "get the best package that they can." He indicated the White House has tapped Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., to "take the lead" in negotiations on the Hill.
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