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Funding vote to test Obama’s resolve on ending earmarksBy Alexander Bolton - 12/14/10 08:36 PM ET Senate Democrats are moving aggressively to pass a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill that will test President Obama’s resolve on opposing congressional earmarks. The 1,924-page bill would set aside funding for thousands of earmarks, according to Senate aides tracking the legislation. Obama last month called for an earmark ban, saying in one of his weekly addresses that “we can’t afford” these items inserted by members of Congress “without adequate review.” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) on Tuesday called on Obama to intervene in the Senate’s...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a $284 billion, six-year highway and transit construction bill on Thursday, advancing a measure that eluded final passage last year in a fight with the White House over budget deficits. The legislation, which is 18 months overdue, matches the spending demands outlined in the Bush administration's 2006 budget and the cost of a similar version making its way through the Senate. Many lawmakers in both houses would eventually like to see more money committed to road, tunnel and bridge improvements. The House bill includes a provision that would let Congress...

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush sent Congress a $2.4 trillion election-year budget on Monday featuring big increases for defense and homeland security but also a record $521 billion deficit.</p> <p>To battle the soaring deficits, Bush proposed squeezing scores of government programs and sought outright spending cuts in seven of 16 Cabinet-level agencies. The Agriculture Department and the Environmental Protection Agency were targeted for the biggest reductions.</p>

<p>WASHINGTON -- Congress gave final approval Thursday to a massive spending bill for most domestic programs, clearing the way for new rules dealing with gun purchases, media ownership and overtime pay.</p> <p>The legislation also allows the Bush administration to delay implementation of country-of-origin food labeling and create the nation's first federally funded school voucher program.</p>