Bush claims victory on terror bill

12/08/2001

By ALAN FRAM
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — President Bush is all but taking bows after Senate Democrats buckled to his demands to limit anti-terrorism spending to $20 billion.

Capping a three-day battle on the Senate floor, lawmakers used a voice vote at about midnight to approve this year's $318 billion defense bill and a compromise $20 billion package attached to it for the Pentagon and to bolster security at home.

About 11 hours earlier Friday, GOP senators rallied behind Bush and voted to bring down a Democratic-written $35 billion response to the Sept. 11 attacks. Democrats finally settled for a $20 billion alternative, a direct response to Bush's repeated threats to veto anything exceeding that amount.

In a victory statement issued by the White House, the president congratulated the Senate for approving a package he said ``honors the agreement I reached with the Congress and resists unnecessary non-defense spending.''

Bush and Republicans contend that Congress agreed to not spend more than the $20 billion limit, which Democrats deny.

``We have ensured the funding necessary to recover from the Sept. 11 attacks and to protect and defend our homeland,'' Bush added.

One sponsor of the smaller measure, Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., said it would ``at least do something'' to enhance national security. In a bid for bipartisan support, Democrats wrote their new plan with the help of Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The new anti-terror plan shifted about $7 billion that Bush wanted for defense and other programs to efforts tightening domestic security and helping New York and the Washington area recover from the destruction at the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

When the day ended, the president's line in the sand over spending had prevailed over a Democratic drive — amid a worldwide war against terrorists — to boost spending on domestic security. Democrats accused GOP lawmakers of blocking their package to win a political fight for Bush.

``We do not seem to be able to pull together in this town for America even in this time when the people of the United States are united'' against terrorism, Byrd said.

Republicans unanimously supported Bush's insistence on limiting federal anti-terror spending, saying Democrats were purposely forcing politically sensitive votes. And on the 60th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, they noted that the fight was slowing work on this year's wartime defense bill.

``We have our men and women on the ground and in the air and at sea,'' Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., told reporters. ``We should not revert back to political positioning and amendments that cause difficulty for one party.''

White House officials have promised to seek more money early next year, but have said no more is needed until then.

In Friday's pivotal early vote, Republicans killed the $35 billion Democratic anti-terrorism plan in a 50-50 roll call that derailed the entire defense bill. Republicans got nine votes more than the 41 they needed on the procedural motion upending the bill. Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., was the only lawmaker to cross party lines.

The new, smaller Democratic anti-terrorism plan contained:

—$8.5 billion for countering bioterrorism and other domestic security programs, $4.1 billion more than Bush;

—$9.5 billion for the New York and Washington metropolitan areas to recover from the attacks, $3.2 billion more than Bush;

—$2 billion for defense, $5.3 billion less than Bush;

—Nothing for unemployment and health insurance aid for jobless Americans, compared with Bush's $2 billion. Democrats say aid for the unemployed should be included in a separate economic stimulus bill.

Three days after the Sept. 11 attacks, Congress approved $40 billion to fight terrorists.

Bush was given control of half; lawmakers must vote anew on the details of the second $20 billion. Republicans say there was agreement to limit the spending to $40 billion, while Democrats say that was just a starting point.

The GOP-led House approved a $20 billion package last week.

Including defense funds in the anti-terror section of the bill, the measure would provide the Pentagon with $320 billion — $21 billion over last year's spending and the same as Bush's request.

The bill also would give Bush the full $8.3 billion he sought for his prized missile defense program, though he could divert $1.3 billion of it to anti-terrorism efforts. And it would provide military personnel with a 5 percent pay raise.