GOP Senators Step Back From Bush Budget

[Judi Lynn]

GOP Senators Step Back From Bush Budget
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, March 15, 2006
(03-15) 12:43 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Senate Republicans are trying to show their support for politically sensitive programs like education and veterans' benefits, distancing themselves from President Bush's budget for next year.

During debate on a stripped-down budget plan for the third day, Republicans also pushed amendments to boost funding for port security, immigration enforcement and community development block grants.

As the chamber discussed the budget, a nonbinding measure proposing tax and spending guidelines for the next five years, GOP and Democratic leaders planned a debate late Wednesday on a bill to increase the debt limit by $781 billion to almost $9 trillion.

The debt limit bill is expected to squeak by on a vote Thursday.
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/03/15/national/w124318S16.DTL