House Passes Huge Year-End Spending Bill

Washington Post ^ | Monday, December 8, 2003; 3:34 PM | The Associated Press

[putupon]

Republicans pushed a tardy $373 billion spending package through the House on Monday despite conservative objections that the measure had too many hometown projects and Democratic complaints that it would hurt workers.

The 242-176 vote left the bill in the hands of the Senate, where its fate seemed uncertain. The GOP's narrow majority there may not be enough to overcome efforts by Democrats -- and perhaps some Republicans -- to try killing the measure when the Senate votes on it later this month or in January.

The vast bill would finance most of the government's domestic programs, including 11 Cabinet-level departments and scores of other agencies for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. Its 1,182 pages make detailed decisions about how nearly one-sixth of the federal budget will be spent, covering everything from education to foreign aid to the exploration of space.

It is also loaded with decisions about numerous federal policies, mostly decided in favor of President Bush's proposals. These include rules governing overtime pay, media ownership, and the destruction of records of gun purchases after 24 hours.

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[Redbob]

"...despite... Democratic complaints that it would hurt workers."

To hear Dimocrats tell it, I thought there weren't any workers!