Senate actions today: Round 1 to the Dems.

[TayTay]

Democrat Objections To Send Budget Bill Back To US House

By John Godfrey

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Senate Democrats succeeded Wednesday in temporarily
derailing a $39.7 billion budget bill Republicans had hoped to complete action
on this week.

The measure may still pass the Senate Wednesday, but because Democrats were
able to force Republicans to make small technical changes to the bill, it must
now head back to the House for a vote before it can be taken to the White House
for President George W. Bush's expected signature.

Specifically, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., objected
to a provision that would have exempted hospitals from medical liability for
denying treatment to low-income people unable to pay. The provision would have
no impact on the federal budget and, therefore, technically should not be part
of the budget bill.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg, R-N.H., sad the exemption was
narrowly crafted, and that Democrats were objecting solely as a delaying tactic.
Gregg also warned that some of the spending increases proposed elsewhere in the
bill will now be postponed until the House can vote.

Fifty-two senators voted to ignore the liability provision and other small
errors in the bill, but Republicans needed 60 of 100 votes to overcome
Democratic objections.