Supplemental funding package keeps growing

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal 2006 emergency supplemental spending bill Tuesday that is $15 billion more than the White House had requested. The measure next heads to the floor, where senators will try to attach billions more to its price tag.

The $106.5 billion supplemental package for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, hurricane relief and other purposes likely will reach the Senate floor after the two-week Easter recess. It is about $10 billion heavier after Tuesday's committee action, with additional spending on everything from Midwest drought relief to aid for New England lobstermen, and was dealt out with such bipartisan vigor that none of it required a recorded vote.

The money was added at a rate of more than $80 million per minute during the two-hour markup.

Senators are preparing additional amendments for the floor, such as $1.2 billion for veterans' medical care. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., is threatening to hold up all of President Bush's nominees and appointments until he agrees to ask Congress for another $6 billion to rebuild levees in New Orleans.

Senators also added language preventing relaxation of foreign ownership restrictions on U.S. airlines.

The Bush administration is working to soften the language in conference, for fear it might threaten a multinational aviation agreement the European Union is set to consider in June.

The committee approved the bill 27-1, with Senate Budget Chairman Judd Gregg's, R-N.H., casting the lone "no" vote in protest over the added spending.

The White House also lodged objections. "The continued progress toward passage is good news, but the Senate committee's funding level is significantly higher than the president's request and that's a cause for serious concern," said Office of Management and Budget spokesman Scott Milburn.

The House-passed bill is $92 billion, ensuring that whatever emerges in conference will be a record for an emergency spending bill not subject to spending caps.

House Republicans are encountering their own spending pressures, as moderates in that chamber are seeking to offer their own fiscal 2007 budget resolution later this week, adding $7.2 billion for domestic programs when appropriators take up next year's spending bills.

The additional supplemental spending is likely to be scaled back during conference next month.

GOP leaders must tread carefully, however, as their actions might have political significance.

Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., who faces a tough re-election fight, co-sponsored a $4 billion amendment providing crop and livestock assistance for farmers and ranchers hurt by drought, frost and floods across the country.

Other amendments added include $2.3 billion to combat a possible avian flu outbreak; $1.1 billion in aid for the commercial seafood and recreational fishing industries, including $20 million for New England lobstermen affected by last year's toxic red tide; $648 million for port security; $600 million for Katrina evacuee housing; $594 million for emergency highway repairs, and $350 million for education.

Amid growing opposition to foreign ownership of U.S business interests, the committee approved an amendment by Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and ranking member Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, temporarily barring the Transportation Department from finalizing a proposed rule loosening foreign ownership restrictions on U.S. airlines.

At the same time, the United States and European Union are negotiating an "Open Skies" agreement to allow each others' air carriers to fly anywhere within their borders.

The issue has split U.S. carriers, torn between airlines like United and Delta that could benefit from foreign capital infusions and new trans-Atlantic flight opportunities, and Continental, which fears being locked out of London's lucrative but congested Heathrow Airport.

That has provided labor interests, united against the proposals, with an opening.

Transportation-Treasury Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Christopher (Kit) Bond, R-Mo., likened the amendment to efforts to block the Dubai Ports World deal and said it "could have a chilling effect on our trading partners" and end up harming national security.

Stevens and Inouye met Tuesday with Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, who might issue a final rule on foreign ownership as early as next week, Inouye said. The amendment is meant for the agency to "take as a signal" not to go forward, he said.

The House bill contains non-binding report language on the matter.

A spokesman said Mineta is confident he "will be able to reach agreement on language that properly addresses airline safety and security while allowing for the kind of investment that carriers need to maintain their international competitiveness."