WASHINGTON - Republican congressional leaders struggled Wednesday to
sidetrack legislation allowing prescription drugs to be imported from abroad, a pre-election controversy threatening to delay billion of dollars for homeland security.
But rank-and-file lawmakers, Republican and Democrat alike, pledged to push through the plan to let Americans buy cheaper drugs across borders after years of fruitless attempts.
...snip...
Republican leaders, eager to adjourn for elections with a flourish, have said they hope to quickly send President Bush a compromise $33.7 billion bill to fund the Homeland Security Department next year. The spending bill would bolster borders and rebuild the Federal Emergency Management Agency — high priority items — but also nearly halve the funds lawmakers approved earlier this year for security grants for ports.
Instead, wrangling dragged out Wednesday over the prescription drug spat and several other last-minute changes to the bill, including securing chemical facilities and roadblocks against illegal immigration.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060920/ap_on_go_co/security_spending_1Well, it's not like they had been wasting their time with any
frivolous issues...