Advertisement

Spending bill likely to pass

 
Published Dec. 14, 2013

Washington

Spending bill likely to pass

One day after winning lopsided House approval, bipartisan legislation to ease across-the-board spending cuts appears likely to command the 60 votes necessary to clear the Senate, officials in both parties said Friday. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced a test vote for Tuesday on the measure, which cleared the House on an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 332-94. Many Senate Republicans are expected to vote against the bill.

Cease-fire declared over nominations

Senate leaders on Friday called a cease-fire in a weeklong fight over the chamber's new rules that limit filibusters, ending a nearly 48-hour session. In the end, senators' aversion to what would have been a rare weekend session trumped the desire to score political points. Under the deal, votes on a pair of nominees that could have kept the Senate in session until tonight will be pushed to Monday.

Elsewhere

Ukraine: After more than three weeks of street protests against his rule, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich on Friday met with opposition leaders, who came away declaring that little had been achieved.

Washington: President Barack Obama has decided to keep the National Security Agency and the Pentagon's cyberwarfare branch under the same command despite concerns that it concentrates too much power in the hands of one official.

Wichita, Kan.: Terry Lee Loewen, 58, of Wichita was arrested Friday on charges that he planned to set off a car bomb at the Wichita airport to support al-Qaida, authorities said.

Times wires