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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| War funds budget clears US Senate | War funds budget clears US Senate |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US Senate has approved a huge $555bn (£277bn) federal budget that includes an extra $70bn for US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. | The US Senate has approved a huge $555bn (£277bn) federal budget that includes an extra $70bn for US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| Faced with a veto threat from President George W Bush, Democrats dropped efforts to tie the funds to a timetable for a US troop withdrawal from Iraq. | Faced with a veto threat from President George W Bush, Democrats dropped efforts to tie the funds to a timetable for a US troop withdrawal from Iraq. |
| The House of Representatives could vote on the Iraq funds later in the day. | The House of Representatives could vote on the Iraq funds later in the day. |
| The approval of the budget, after months of argument, comes as a Pentagon report has hailed "progress" in Iraq. | The approval of the budget, after months of argument, comes as a Pentagon report has hailed "progress" in Iraq. |
| When is enough enough? I urge my colleagues to vote against this gigantic blank cheque Senator Edward Kennedy | When is enough enough? I urge my colleagues to vote against this gigantic blank cheque Senator Edward Kennedy |
| The quarterly report for Congress said US forces had made "significant progress" in Iraq over the past three months, with the country becoming safer. | The quarterly report for Congress said US forces had made "significant progress" in Iraq over the past three months, with the country becoming safer. |
| But the report cautioned that despite the progress on the security front, the handover to Iraqis was lagging, with Iraqi forces still dependent on US troops for logistics and training. | But the report cautioned that despite the progress on the security front, the handover to Iraqis was lagging, with Iraqi forces still dependent on US troops for logistics and training. |
| 'Omnibus' bill | 'Omnibus' bill |
| The half-a-trillion-dollar appropriations bill, passed late on Tuesday, combines funding for all government departments except defence, and covers areas including housing, law enforcement and transport. | The half-a-trillion-dollar appropriations bill, passed late on Tuesday, combines funding for all government departments except defence, and covers areas including housing, law enforcement and transport. |
| Senators voted 70-25 to back the war funds measure, and then by 76-17 to pass the spending bill for the fiscal year that began on 1 October. | Senators voted 70-25 to back the war funds measure, and then by 76-17 to pass the spending bill for the fiscal year that began on 1 October. |
| The Democrats, who won majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in November 2006, had tried time and again to impose a timetable for a withdrawal from Iraq. | The Democrats, who won majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in November 2006, had tried time and again to impose a timetable for a withdrawal from Iraq. |
| "When is enough enough? I urge my colleagues to vote against this gigantic blank cheque," said Democratic Sen Edward Kennedy. | "When is enough enough? I urge my colleagues to vote against this gigantic blank cheque," said Democratic Sen Edward Kennedy. |
| The counter-argument was put by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell: "We need to pass this spending bill, with troop funds, without any strings and without further delay." | The counter-argument was put by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell: "We need to pass this spending bill, with troop funds, without any strings and without further delay." |
| With Mr Bush standing firm and threatening to veto the entire budget - a move that could have paralysed federal agencies - the Democrats ended their attempts to impose conditions on money for Iraq. | With Mr Bush standing firm and threatening to veto the entire budget - a move that could have paralysed federal agencies - the Democrats ended their attempts to impose conditions on money for Iraq. |
| The House of Representatives passed its version of the budget bill on Monday, specifically excluding any new money for Iraq. | The House of Representatives passed its version of the budget bill on Monday, specifically excluding any new money for Iraq. |
| The Iraq funds measures is set to come before the House again on Wednesday, where Democrats concede it is now likely to pass. | The Iraq funds measures is set to come before the House again on Wednesday, where Democrats concede it is now likely to pass. |
| 'Priorities' | 'Priorities' |
| As well as arguments over Iraq funding, Senate Democrats and the White House were at odds over the scale of the budget, with Mr Bush seeking to keep below-inflation increases or cutbacks in many domestic programmes. | As well as arguments over Iraq funding, Senate Democrats and the White House were at odds over the scale of the budget, with Mr Bush seeking to keep below-inflation increases or cutbacks in many domestic programmes. |
| The White House said the budget largely adhered to the president's spending limits, but "it also addresses some of the bottom-line priorities of the American people", Democratic Sen Tom Harkin said. | The White House said the budget largely adhered to the president's spending limits, but "it also addresses some of the bottom-line priorities of the American people", Democratic Sen Tom Harkin said. |
| The bill includes some $11bn in what is known as emergency spending for areas including health care for veterans, drought relief, border security and firefighting. | The bill includes some $11bn in what is known as emergency spending for areas including health care for veterans, drought relief, border security and firefighting. |
| The bill also sets out an increase in military aid for Indonesia which would get $15.7m, and the Philippines which is set to receive $30m. | The bill also sets out an increase in military aid for Indonesia which would get $15.7m, and the Philippines which is set to receive $30m. |
| Both are seen as key allies in South-East Asia and crucial to tackling terrorism. Some of the money would, however, be conditional on human rights improvements. | Both are seen as key allies in South-East Asia and crucial to tackling terrorism. Some of the money would, however, be conditional on human rights improvements. |