Bush Prevails in Deal on $87 Billion for War Effort [View All]

[Emboldened Chimp]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/29/international/middleeast/29CND-COST.html?hp

By DAVID STOUT

Published: October 29, 2003


WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 — Senate and House negotiators reached general agreement on an $87 billion aid package for Iraq and Afghanistan today, and they specified that all the money would be in the form of grants, as President Bush had wanted.

The action clears the way for both houses to pass the aid package, which is expected Thursday or Friday. The House and Senate have already approved the package in principle, so today's agreement on most of the sticking points between the two chambers assures final passage.

Vote counters had predicted over the past few days that Mr. Bush would get his way — that is, that the final package would be stripped of loan provisions. The president has insisted that Iraq should not be saddled with a debt burden in its post-Hussein infancy.