Senate GOP Passes Test on Homeland Spending

Republicans on Thursday night demonstrated the votes to scuttle a Democratic plan to increase proposed spending on homeland security and recovery by $15 billion, as the Senate headed toward a showdown vote on a smaller GOP initiative.

In two test votes that were largely along party lines, Democrats fell 10 votes short of the 60 they would need to overcome a procedural challenge that Republicans are expected to make if they fail to pass their own version of the legislation.

Barring passage of the GOP alternative, the Senate is likely to find itself in a stalemate, requiring a negotiated compromise to pass the $318-billion military spending bill for this year and the anti-terrorism funding that has been attached to it.

The $15 billion proposed by Democrats--$7.5 billion for domestic security and $7.5 billion to help New York and other targets of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks--is in addition to a $20-billion anti-terrorism package supported by President Bush. He has vowed to veto any spending beyond the $20 billion.

The Democrats’ proposal would increase spending beyond Bush’s proposals for a wide range of activities, including airport and port security, protection of laboratories, local law enforcement and recovery assistance to New York and the Washington area.

Democrats are seeking to portray themselves as the champions of homeland defense and confront the Republicans with the pain of choosing between supporting their president and voting against popular programs to fight bioterrorism and other domestic threats.