Prometheus 6

Congress Agrees on Tight Budget for U.S.
$388 Billion Spending Bill Bars Officials From Requiring Abortion Services

By Dan Morgan and Helen Dewar
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, November 21, 2004; Page A01

Congress reached final agreement last night on a $388 billion spending bill funding 13 government departments and dozens of domestic agencies in 2005, after last-minute objections from abortion rights advocates threatened to delay or derail the entire measure.

House passage came on a vote of 344 to 51. Later in the evening, the Senate gave its approval, 65 to 30.

I'm sorry but the Democrats wimped out again.

The abortion language remained in the spending bill, but late yesterday, Senate opponents agreed not to block its consideration after Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) promised to schedule a vote in the near future on a bill drafted by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) to repeal the provision.

They settled for a promise to vote on repealing the provision some time in the future.

I'm investing in coat hanger manufacturers.