Senate takes last futile stab at defense bill

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Senate takes last futile stab at defense bill
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Aug 1, 2008 11:21:11 EDT

The Senate made a futile attempt Thursday to quickly pass its version of the 2009 defense authorization bill in a maneuver fraught with political overtones that had no real chance of succeeding.

The procedural motion to take up the bill fell short of the required 60 votes. The final tally was 51-39.

Debate on the annual defense bill traditionally takes a week or longer on the Senate floor, with hundreds of amendments considered, but Senate Democratic leaders were talking about spending just 10 minutes on the bill on the eve of adjourning for their summer recess without allowing any amendments.

A political motive was behind the motion, stemming from the Senate spending its last week of work before the five-week break bogged down in a battle over an energy bill. The vote to move on to S 3001, the 2009 defense authorization bill passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee April 30, was designed to put people holding up the energy bill — mostly Republicans — in a difficult spot by forcing them to vote against taking up the defense bill instead.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said he had no problem voting against taking up the defense bill.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/military_authorizationbill_senate_080108w/