"House Leaders Are Dealt a Rare Defeat on Spending Bill"

NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/17/politics/17cnd-cong.html?ex=1132894800&en=2092a2af761eec8a&ei=5009&partner=MSN_NYTHOME

House Leaders Are Dealt a Rare Defeat on Spending Bill

By CARL HULSE
Published: November 17, 2005

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 - House Republican leaders were dealt a rare defeat today as Democrats and about two dozen Republicans teamed up to kill a $142 billion health and education spending bill.

Many members said the bill's defeat, by 224 to 209 votes, was the first rejection of an appropriation measure they could recall since Republicans assumed House control in 1995. The loss left the leadership uncertain whether to bring up another budget measure, which calls for $50 billion in cuts over five years.

"We are going to regroup," Representative Deborah Pryce of Ohio, the chairman of the Republican conference, said after a vote that left many members of the party stunned in their seats on the House floor.

The outcome underlined the divide confounding House Republicans as conservatives press for lower spending and moderates resist cuts in social safety net programs. It is being compounded by worry about the midterm elections next year and about slumping public approval for the Bush administration as well as aggressive resistance by Democrats. Members of both parties said the measure fell victim to a unusual confluence of legislative circumstances. Under pressure to show dedication to spending discipline, Republicans held down spending on health programs and reduced education money for the first time in years. At the same time, negotiators stripped the bill of special local projects sought by members, a decision that cut into support since House members already unhappy with the cuts had no other incentive to back the bill.

Many members said the bill's defeat, by 224 to 209 votes, was the first rejection of an appropriation measure they could recall since Republicans assumed House control in 1995.