Following a week of negotiations and House approval, it got stuck in the Senate where anger erupted over provisions added by congressional Republican leaders that gave some committee chairman and their staff access to personal tax records without privacy protections and another that would make it easier for hospitals to not provide abortions.
However, a deal on a companion measure to repeal the tax provision helped clear the way for passage Saturday night. The spending bill is being held for final presidential approval until the House approves the repeal Wednesday.
Overall, the appropriations bill includes nine unapproved funding bills with spending for most federal agencies excluding the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon.
The White House was victorious on most of the contentious issues with which it took issue, including congressional attempts to derail Bush administration efforts to open federal agencies to more private outsourcing as well as challenges to its newly enacted overtime rules and toughening of federal restrictions on travel to Cuba.
The bill also helps keep total spending in fiscal 2005 below $822 billion, as demanded by the administration.
Democrats decried the measure as inadequate in meeting the nation's needs, particularly on the environment, education, and healthcare.
Copyright 2004 by United Press International
