Lawmakers, White House try to complete work on big spending package

[Judi Lynn]

Lawmakers, White House try to complete work on big spending package
By Alan Fram, Associated Press, 11/22/2003 09:45

WASHINGTON (AP) Lawmakers hope to iron out last disputes over an end-of-session spending bill exceeding $280 billion after the Bush administration won a fight over overtime pay that had been the toughest stumbling block.

With the Senate holding a rare Saturday session, legislators were hoping to end lingering battles over replacing federal workers and other issues.

That would clear the way for the House to vote this weekend, and the Senate by early next week, on the last spending measures for the federal budget year that started Oct. 1. Also needing approval were two measures financing foreign aid and the Treasury and Transportation departments. (snip)

(snip) The Republicans who run Congress were loath to repeat a standoff that resulted in spending bills not finished until last February nearly five months late. They blamed the Democrats who controlled the Senate in 2002 but could blame no one but themselves this time.
(snip)

(snip) Disagreements remained between the White House and some Republicans over an administration plan to let private companies do work now performed by government employees. There were also questions over how to pay for about $4 billion in added spending for schools, veterans, foreign aid and new voting systems. (snip/...)

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/326/wash/Lawmakers_White_House_try_to_c:.shtml

[Kitsune]

1. BIG. SPENDING. PACKAGE.

So why is the epithet 'tax-and-spend' appended to Dems?
:wtf:

[onebigbadwulf]

2. Why does

"big spending" from the repugs no longer shock me?