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Thursday, March 16, 2006
Specter-Harkin Amendment Passes
The Harkin-Specter amendment restoring $7 billion to Labor-HHS passed the Senate today. It passed 73-27, with the following Republicans voting in favor of the amendment: Sens. Alexander, Bennett, Burns, Chafee, Cochran, Coleman, Collins, DeWine, Dole, Domenici, Frist, Grassley, Hagel, Hatch, Hutchison, Lott, Lugar, Murkowski, Roberts, Santorum, Smith, Snowe, Specter, Stevens, Talent, Thune, Voinovich, and Warner.
Additionally, an amendment offered by Senator Reed (D-RI) was agreed to by a close vote of 51-49. The amendment increases funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $3.3 billion for FY 2007. This puts the funds available to carry out that program at the fully authorized level of $5,100,000,000, and pays for it by closing corporate tax loopholes.
Finally, the Senate voted to increase the debt limit today, 52-48.
Posted by Becky Lewis
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