GOP tries to head off New Yorkers seeking extra funds

WASHINGTON -- White House officials and House Republican leaders labored Tuesday to head off a challenge to President Bush by New York lawmakers seeking $11 billion to help the city recover from September's terrorist attack.

As they did, Democrats said they would ignore Bush's threat to veto any emergency anti-terrorism spending that exceeds the $40 billion already provided by Congress. They said they will seek an additional $7.1 billion for countering bioterrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction and other domestic security programs, plus $6.5 billion to bolster intelligence and defense spending.

"People's lives are at stake, their security is at stake," said Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.

The fight over the extra funds for New York, domestic security and defense seemed likely to play out today, when the Appropriations panel planned to vote on a $318 billion defense spending bill. A Tuesday evening meeting of the committee was postponed because GOP leaders were uncertain they could fend off the New Yorkers.

Anti-terrorism money

Bush controls half the $40 billion in anti-terrorism money Congress approved on Sept. 14, three days after thousands died when terrorists flew hijacked planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the Pennsylvania countryside.

Details of the remaining $20 billion must be approved by Congress, and the Appropriations committee's GOP leaders planned to add their plan for it to the defense bill. It resembled Bush's request, dividing the $20 billion roughly into thirds for defense, domestic security, and relief for New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Led by Rep. James Walsh, R-N.Y., New Yorkers readied an amendment that would boost that price tag by $11 billion to be aimed mostly at their state, where most of the Sept. 11 damage occurred. Walsh also was seeking support from lawmakers from Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where many victims of the World Trade Center destruction lived.

Eager to avoid a confrontation with members of their own party, White House officials and GOP leaders tried to persuade Walsh to abandon his amendment by promising the money would be provided later. Bush has said he would consider providing more next year to combat terror.

Vice President Dick Cheney planned to meet today at the White House with Walsh and Rep. Nita Lowey, senior New York Democrat on the committee, about satisfying the New Yorkers while meeting Bush's desire to limit this year's spending.

"I think we can reconcile both goals," White House deputy budget chief Sean O'Keefe said on Monday.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., spoke to other Republicans on the Appropriations committee on Monday in an effort to head off Walsh, said aides.

Differing predictions

Republicans offered differing predictions about whether they would defeat Obey's proposal to boost spending by $7.1 billion. Among its biggest increases over Bush's plans were $800 million more for state and local hospitals and health care agencies, $1 billion to protect domestic nuclear weapons and Russia's nuclear material and $876 million to secure federal facilities.

Under their amendments, even if the money for New York, domestic security and defense was enacted, Bush would only have to spend it if he wanted to. Even so, Republicans opposed those efforts and another by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., to provide $6.5 billion for defense and intelligence.

Across the Capitol, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., pared his own plan to add $20 billion for domestic security programs to $15 billion.

A Senate fight over that package might be delayed until after the one-week break Congress is likely to take for Thanksgiving.

The House voted 379-33 to approve a compromise $75.9 billion spending bill for the Agriculture Department and Food and Drug Administration. The bill, now headed toward final congressional approval by the Senate, boosts money for food stamps and other nutrition programs expected because of the economic downturn.