Oil stockpile bill sent to president
The Senate approved and sent to the White House legislation directing President Bush to temporarily suspend oil deposits into the government’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Bush has refused to halt the stockpiling of about 70,000 barrels of oil a day, saying it was such a small amount that it could have no effect on the price of gasoline or crude oil.
The Senate and House had approved the suspension Tuesday, but in different forms. The Senate approved the House bill by unanimous consent.
The measure passed by veto-proof majorities in each house, with more than two-thirds support.
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