Senate, House heading toward showdown over war spending bill
CAPITOL HILL Both the House and Senate agree with the White House that another 81 (b) billion dollars should be spent on Iraq and Afghanistan. But a showdown is brewing over how that money should be split. Negotiators will have to resolve differences over allocating funds for military operations versus foreign assistance.
Senators are due to vote on their spending bill today. It gives more money to foreign aid programs and to the families of fallen soldiers than the House version. The Senate also demands the Pentagon keep the full fleet of 12 aircraft carriers.
A fight is also expected over immigration reform, which the Senate kept out of its bill. The House wants an end to driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, tougher rules for staying in the U-S and the creation of a fence at the Mexican border.
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