Senate OKs Defense Bill Without N.Y., Domestic Security Extras

Uniting behind a veto threat from President Bush, Senate Republicans on Friday killed Democratic attempts to add $15 billion for homeland security and aid to New York to a military and anti-terrorism spending bill.

The Senate action represented a victory for Bush in his efforts to shape critical year-end legislation in Congress. It followed a similar failure last month by House Democrats to win approval for more money for domestic security and the disaster-stricken city.

Another Bush priority appeared to stall Friday, as congressional negotiators reported that talks on an economic stimulus bill had come to a standstill.

The president has called on Congress to cut taxes and extend unemployment aid as an antidote to the recently confirmed recession. But Democrats have balked at the extent of the tax cuts Bush wants.

So far, leaders of the Republican-led House and Democratic-controlled Senate have talked little about substance and much more about procedure, fueling doubts that Congress will clear a stimulus bill this year. On Friday, a key negotiator, Rep. William M. Thomas (R-Bakersfield), flew home. His absence from Washington dimmed hopes for immediate progress.

On must-pass spending bills for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, Congress has been making steady progress in recent weeks (stopgap spending measures have kept federal agencies functioning).

So far, eight of 13 yearly appropriations bill have become law, and two others have been cleared for Bush’s signature. Just three remain unfinished, covering defense, foreign operations and labor, education and health. That progress has come with Congress adhering to Bush’s demand to contain government spending.

On Friday, just before midnight, the Senate approved its version of the $318-billion defense bill, with $20 billion in counter-terrorism spending attached. The White House supports those totals, though it may quibble with some details.

Approval came on a voice vote, and it cleared the way for House and Senate negotiators to work out a final bill.

Bush, whose political standing has risen sharply since the Sept. 11 attacks, has said repeatedly that Congress already has provided all the money currently needed to defend the nation and wage the counter-terrorism war.

Shortly after the attacks, Congress worked with Bush to create a $40-billion emergency response fund. The White House and key lawmakers also agreed to limit other spending for fiscal 2002 to $686 billion.

Bush has threatened to veto any spending that exceeds those sums. Such threats are powerful because Republicans have more than enough votes to sustain the president. (It takes a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress to override a veto.)

Democrats in recent weeks have argued that more money is needed immediately to combat emerging bioterrorism threats, rebuild New York and beef up domestic security on many fronts. That led Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Appropriations Committee, to add a $15-billion package to the defense and counter-terrorism bill.

On a 50-50 vote Friday, the Senate knocked down Byrd’s proposal. All 49 Republicans voted against Byrd on a decisive parliamentary question, joined by Sen. Russell D. Feingold (D-Wis.). Byrd had needed 60 votes for his bill to advance.

Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said the Democratic quest never gained traction. “It’s been obvious this was just a political scheme. The strategy backfired on the Democrats. . . . I think the American people saw through it.”