Originally published January 9 2006
Republicans barely push spending cuts through House
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
By a margin of two votes, Republicans passed a $602 billion measure that will cut or freeze money for health, education and labor programs.
The House's 215-213 approval of the bill came a month after the GOP leadership was dealt an embarrassing defeat when 22 of its rank and file joined all Democrats in voting against the measure.
That marked the first time since Republicans took control of the chamber a decade ago that the House had rejected a House-Senate compromise spending bill.
Among South Florida lawmakers, Republicans Mark Foley and Clay Shaw voted for the measure while Democrats Robert Wexler and Alcee Hastings voted against it.
On Wednesday, every Democrat again voted no, objecting that the legislation would make the first cut in education spending in a decade and shortchanged such programs as aid to low-income families for their heating bills.
They also charged that spending cuts were being considered just a week after the House passed $94 billion in tax cuts.
"The holidays are supposed to be a time of generosity --- a time when Santa Claus fills children's stockings," Obey said.
But the tweaks that the GOP leaders were forced to make to secure the additional votes underscored the problem they face in trying to complete work on a separate bill that would cut spending by as much as $50 billion over the next five years, increasingly dimming the prospects they will complete the measure before adjourning for the year.
The annual spending bill for health, education and labor programs --- the biggest of the annual spending bills to come before Congress --- differs only in a few small ways from the version that the House voted down last month.
Still in the bill are cuts in a wide range of programs, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Head Start and grants for safe schools and drug-free schools.
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