WASHINGTON Congress looks to pass spending

Many Democrats are still angry, but enough are expected to help pass it.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress' belated approval of a $373 billion bill financing a vast swath of the government would give President Bush a bushel of victories and Democrats a mixed bag, while turning the page to campaign-year fights over next year's budget.
The Republican-run Senate planned to vote anew today on ending Democratic delays against the legislation, which would finance agriculture, veterans and most other domestic programs. The measure is for the federal fiscal year that began Oct. 1 -- nearly four months ago.
60 votes needed
Leaders of both parties said they believed supporters would garner the 60 votes needed to halt the slowdown tactics and pass the bill.
Many Democrats remained angry about overtime pay, food labeling and other controversies it addresses. But with Republicans adamant about not changing the measure, enough Democrats were expected to succumb to its tons of home-state projects and spending boosts for popular programs.
"There's too much riding" on the money in the bill to block it, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., told reporters Wednesday. "We're certainly not going to shut down the government ... or deny important funding" for programs.
"We're optimistic, hopeful and optimistic," said Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the No. 2 Senate GOP leader.
The delay in the 2004 budget means some projects are on hold or in doubt, including a 4.1 percent pay raise for civil servants and $50 million to diversify the manufacturing base for vaccines. That's too late for the current flu season when vaccines were sometimes scarce but a possible help for fighting future outbreaks.
Blocked it again
Democrats and a handful of Republicans blocked the bill Tuesday when the Senate voted 48-45 to keep the delays going -- 12 votes shy of what was needed to halt them. But with little chance to prevail, Democrats seemed increasingly willing to take what they could and prepare for fights over deficits, tax cuts and other issues that Bush's 2005 budget is sure to raise when he unveils it Feb. 2.
"We feel we've had the opportunity to make our statement," Daschle said.
Policy triumphs for Bush in the bill include eased requirements for federal gun records, the nation's first federally financed school vouchers, and language letting him contract out more government work to contractors.
Bush priorities
The bill also has money for Bush priorities including fighting AIDS in Africa, aid for countries instituting democratic reforms, the AmeriCorps national service program, and funds for disabled students.
It would also let Bush claim that he held expenditures in the 13 spending bills to just a 3 percent increase this year -- though billions in new expenses for war or other efforts could come in the next few months.
Labor, many farm groups and others -- along with their Senate supporters -- remained adamantly opposed to the measure. It would let the administration issue new rules allowing companies to end overtime pay for many white collar workers; delay country-of-origin labels on beef and other foods that were due in September; and permit companies to own more television stations.
With the presidential and congressional elections looming in November, opponents seemed eager to snatch victory from defeat by keeping the issues alive into the campaigns.
"We're not giving up," said Bill Samuel, legislative director of the labor organization AFL-CIO. "If we lose tomorrow, we'll continue our efforts on the next bill."
Overtime issue
Daschle said Democrats would use special Senate procedures to try forcing a vote on a resolution rejecting the overtime regulations when they take effect.
The package wraps seven spending bills into one, covering 11 Cabinet departments and scores of other agencies, plus foreign aid and the District of Columbia government. Six other spending measures -- covering the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies -- have been enacted.
Internal GOP disagreements over spending and policy issues prevented Congress from finishing the bill on time last year. Republicans had vowed to finish the measure on time to underscore their ability to run the government, but their failure to do so probably won't register on a public more concerned about the economy, war and terrorism.