#House Leaders Are Dealt a Rare Defeat on Spending Bill - New York Times

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House Leaders Are Dealt a Rare Defeat on Spending Bill

 

By CARL HULSE

Published: November 17, 2005

 

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 - House Republican leaders were dealt a rare defeat

today as Democrats and about two dozen Republicans teamed up to kill a

$142 billion health and education spending bill.

 

Many members said the bill's defeat, by 224 to 209 votes, was the first

rejection of an appropriation measure they could recall since

Republicans assumed House control in 1995. The loss left the leadership

uncertain whether to bring up another budget measure, which calls for

$50 billion in cuts over five years.

 

" We are going to regroup, " Representative Deborah Pryce of Ohio, the

chairman of the Republican conference, said after a vote that left many

members of the party stunned in their seats on the House floor.

 

The outcome underlined the divide confounding House Republicans as

conservatives press for lower spending and moderates resist cuts in

social safety net programs. It is being compounded by worry about the

midterm elections next year and about slumping public approval for the

Bush administration as well as aggressive resistance by Democrats.

Members of both parties said the measure fell victim to a unusual

confluence of legislative circumstances. Under pressure to show

dedication to spending discipline, Republicans held down spending on

health programs and reduced education money for the first time in years.

At the same time, negotiators stripped the bill of special local

projects sought by members, a decision that cut into support since House

members already unhappy with the cuts had no other incentive to back the

bill.

 

" The combination of that was too much for them to swallow, " said

Representative Jerry Lewis, Republican of California and chairman of the

Appropriations Committee.

 

Democrats assailed the bill, which they said lowered spending on the

Centers for Disease Control and reduced access to health care in rural

areas. An emergency $8 billion in spending on avian flu preparation was

cut from the measure and home heating assistance was kept at current

levels, a move critics said was a mistake given rising fuel prices.

 

The Senate put off plans to take up the measure, which even the chief

Senate negotiator, Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, described

as bad legislation.

 

 

" When the power of love becomes stronger than the love of power, we will have

peace. "

Jimi Hendrix