January 19, 2003	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 15, 1423

WASHINGTON, Jan 18: Republicans and Democrats traded charges of fiscal irresponsibility for a second day on Friday as the Senate plowed through a $390 billion spending package wrapping up last year’s unfinished federal budget.

Republican leaders, backing President George W. Bush’s calls to restrain domestic spending, have so far successfully faced down Democratic efforts to add billions of dollars to the package for education, homeland defense and other priorities.

A deadlock last year between Congress and the White House over federal spending left unfinished 11 of 13 bills needed to fund the government in 2003. Most federal agencies have been running under stopgap funding arrangements since the current fiscal year began on Oct. 1.

The “omnibus” spending package before the Senate groups all the remaining spending bills. Bush has urged the new Republican-led Congress to pass it by the end of the month in order to clear the decks for the 2004 budget process.

The Senate will work through its planned recess next week to complete the bill, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said, warning senators to expect busy sessions and late nights.

To meet the White House’s spending targets, Republicans initially cut $10 billion from the equivalent bills drafted by the Senate when it was under Democratic control last year.

The Senate on Thursday rejected, mostly along party lines, attempts to add $6 billion in extra funds for education programs and $5 billion more for homeland security efforts.

On Friday, it also defeated a Democratic bid to restore $11 billion in across-the-board cuts made by Republicans in order to redirect money to drought relief to farmers, state and local education grants and election reform efforts.

Last year’s budget impasse grew out of a year of clashes between Congress and the White House over government spending. But Bush’s political clout, and his calls to check spending, were boosted by the key role he played in helping Republicans to victory in congressional elections in November.

Democrats charge Bush is shortchanging social programmes to make room for his own policy priorities — like the $674 billion tax cut package he announced last week.—Reuters