Daily Briefing: Hey, Big Spender
Senate passes $109B in emergency spending by vote of 77 to 21; bill is rifled with earmarks thatBushthreatened to veto. [ WP , NYT , WSJ ]
House approves $7.4B for port security by vote of 421 to 2. [ WP ]
Rumsfeldconfronted by harsh criticism from audience members. Asked a former CIA analyst, "Why did you lie to get us into a war that caused these kind of casualties and was not necessary?" [ AP ]
Administration increases rhetorical push for "democratic reform in Russia";Cheney's comments could "reflect a growing impatience with Russia's unwillingness to back stronger measures, including sanctions, against the Iranians." [ WP , NYT , WSJ ]
Republicans "are struggling to marry a newfound zeal for energy conservation with their traditional loyalty to big cars and Big Oil." [ NYT ]
The proposed $100 gas rebate "offers a window on how Washington sometimes works in a slapdash way" and shows how Sen.Frist"has stumbled at the pinnacle of Senate power." Sen.Thune: "I never was in favor of that. We all got out there and tried to put our best face on it." [ NYT ]