Senate Dems, Republicans plan series of votes on war-funding bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats are offering to drop billions of dollars in domestic programs from President Bush’s war-funding bill in hopes of avoiding a veto.

But they’re insisting on adding a big expansion of education benefits for veterans under the GI Bill.

The plan by Majority Leader Harry Reid would also provide for passage of Bush’s funding request without restrictions on his conduct of the Iraq war.

Top Democratic and Republican aides say Senate Republicans are poised to accept the deal in order to get the bill to President Bush’s desk soon.

Doing that would involve a series of votes today. Among the items that would be dropped is a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits for people whose benefits have run out.

Bush has been resolute in promising to veto any measure that exceeds his pending $178 billion request for military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan into next year. Such vows have involved the expansion in veterans college aid as well.

Republicans are expected to block a Democratic plan to urge Bush to begin redeployment of combat troops and other strings on his ability to conduct the war in Iraq. After that debate, the Senate would vote — and pass — the war funding measure.

The House would be unable to act until Congress returns from a one-week recess.