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Show DAILY __Friday, March 17, 2006 HERALD Congressraises debtceiling to nearly $9trillion bills passedfor Iraq and Atehanistan wars, Hurricane Katrina relief and education New bill creates deeper deficit Congress passed bill giving the government an additional $781 billion, increasing the federal deficit . Federal budget deficits, 1982-2016 Bush's proposed $873 billion Andrew Taylor WASHINGTON — Congress pushed the ceiling on the na- tionaldebt to nearly $9trillion Thursday, and the House and Senate promptly voted for major spendinginitiatives for the war in Iraq, hurricanerelief and education. The House approved $92 , billion in new money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and forrelief along the hurri- cap on spending appropriated by Congress each year. Vice President Dick Cheney was on hand fora possible tiebreaking vote, but that proved unnecessary Senatorsearlier voted 52-48 to send Bush a measurethat would allowthe government to borrowan additional $781 billion and preventa first-ever default on Treasurynotes. Asa result, the governIraq without raising taxes or cutting popular domestic pro- year and next. The spending blueprint, approved 51-49, little resembles President Bush's proposal last month for the budget year that begins Oct. 1 To the disappointmentof budget hawks, the Senate's measure would break Bush's proposed caps on spending for programs such as education, low-income heating subsidies and health research. All told, senators endorsed more than $16 billion in increases above grams. 1962 84 86 BE GO 92 B4 96 98 00 UZ 04 06 08 10 1214 16 ap SOURCES: Otice of Management and Budget; Congressional Budget Otice from potential oil lease revenues from exploration in an The budgetblueprint advanced without Cheney's vote in the Republican-led Senate when Democratic Sen, Mary Landrieu supported the plan after winning concessions to help her hurricane-damaged Alaskanwildlife refuge Amongthe specific votes for the budget plan were: —$3 billion more for heat- ing subsidies for the poor. It passed 51-49. —$7billion more for educa- tion, health and workersafety —$1 billion more for benefits for military survivors. The Senate votes Thursday set up a confrontation with the House, which is certain to oppose the additional spending. In fact, the Senate’s moves appear to make it less likely that Congresswill settle on a The money would come from Bush's proposedincreasein final budget plan this spring. House Republicans will not release their budget until after next week's congressional recess. “House conservatives are going to look at this budget to wireless companies and airline ticket taxes. They advanced byvoice vote. and say, "Whoa, whathappenedto fiscal conservatism,”” state of Louisiana andrest of the Gulf Coast. She woninclusionof a pro- posal that could provide up $2billion a year for levee and coastal restoration projects. auctioning television airwaves administration's watch.” Sen. Harry Reid minority ieader, D-Nev. mentcould payforthe war in cane-ravaged Gulf Coast. The Senate adopted a $2.8 trillion budget blueprint that anticipates deficits greater than $350billion for both this Projected deficit under oid bit “Whenit comes to deficits, this president ownsall the records. The three largest deficits in ournation’s history have all occurred underthis accounts. It passed 73-27. —$3.7 billion morefor military personnelcosts. $1.2 billion more for aviation security and stopping said top Budget Committee Democrat Kent Conrad of North Dakota. The votes dismayeddeficit hawkssuch as Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg, R-N.H. He already had decided to drop Bush's proposals to cut the growth of Medicare, strengthen tax-free health savings accounts and advancelegislation to make permanenthis 2001 tax cuts. The White House issued a tepid statement supporting the plan despite the numerous setbacks experienced on the floor. “While the Administration will continue to seek entitlement reforms and the elimination of additional discretionary spending ... we recognize that this is an importantfirst step in the congressional process,” said Joshua B. Bolten, director of the White House budget office. Republicans are eager to showtheir conservative supporters that they are getting * serious about cracking down on spending. Last weekend, GOPpresi- dential aspirants at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Memphis, Tenn., promised to be more thrifty with the people's money. But GOP moderates such as Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania apparently did not get the message. His amendment to add $7billion for education, health and labor programs ‘won support from most Republicans, including Majority LeaderBill Frist of Tennessee, whohascriticized Congress for embarking “down a wayward path of wasteful Washington spending.” “All the talk in Memphis just doesn't comport with the realities of these importantitems” such as education and health research, Specter said. Thedebtlimit increase was the fourth of Bush's presidency, totaling $3trillion, With the budget deficit near record levels, an additionalincrease in the debtlimit almost certainlywill be required next year. 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