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Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Which Way Did the Veto Go? Both Ways!
Just so there's no confusion, here are details and status for H.R. 2206 and 2207, the two post-veto Supplemental bills emerging from the House, both facing likely votes this week and potential presidential vetoes thereafter:
- H.R. 2206, "The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007." Introduced by Rep. David Obey (D-WI), expected to be voted on as early as tomorrow; the president promised today to veto this bill.
- the bill provides $42.8 billion in fiscal 2007 war funding upon enactment, but it would require another vote in late July to release the remaining $52.8 billion for the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30. Among the president's objections to H.R. 2206, WH spokesperson Tony Snow cited "restrictions on funding, and there are also some of the spending items that were mentioned in the first veto message that are still on the bill," referring to small business tax package and an accompanying minimum wage increase. The Senate has not scheduled a vote on the bill.
- H.R. 2207, "The Agricultural Disaster Assistance and Western States Emergency Unfinished Business Appropriations Act, 2007. Also introduced by Rep. David Obey. President Bush has also issued a threat to veto H.R. 2207, on the grounds that there are no offsets for mandatory agriculture disaster assistance provisions.
- the bill provides $3.5 billion for agricultural relief, $500 million for fighting wildfires, $425 million for a county payments program and $60 million for California salmon. Word is that H.R. 2207 is likely to come up for a House floor vote on Friday. Moving these domestic spending items in separate post-veto bill was an attempt to ease passage of the military portion of the supplemental.
Posted by Dana Chasin
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