US Senate Approves Overdue 390-billion-dollar Spending Bill

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 24, 2003

US Senate Approves Overdue 390-billion-dollar Spending Bill

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The US Senate approved on Thursday a 390-billion-dollar bill financing most federal agencies, thus ending a prolonged battle between the congress and President George W. Bush over government spending.

The measure is a collection of 11 bills financing every agency except the Pentagon for the current fiscal year which started on Oct. 1. The Defense Department's budget was enacted last fall.

A fierce battle between Bush and the congress prevented the bill from being passed before the fiscal year began. Bush wanted to limit government spending, but Democrats wanted to spend more on social programs such as health care and education.

Republican leaders at the House of Representatives avoided a potentially embarrassing campaign-season defeat for Bush by shelving work on the legislation last year.

The 69-29 vote in the Senate reflected the new landscape in the chamber after Republicans regained control over it in the mid-term elections last year.

The Senate will negotiate with the House, which is also controlled by Republicans, over the bill before sending the final document to Bush for signing.

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