Congress to wrestle over antiterror funds

WASHINGTON -- President Bush will have to battle Democrats and some members of his own Republican Party as Congress moves to wrap up the year's overdue budget work.

Lawmakers have completed eight of the 13 annual spending bills for fiscal 2002, which began Oct. 1. They hope to complete the rest -- plus separate measures on economic stimulus, trade and the insurance industry -- by mid December, then go home for the year.

In the remaining five spending measures, fights lie ahead on efforts to increase spending for antiterrorism, education and aircraft made by the ailing Boeing Co. Other battles loom over U.S. family planning aid abroad and restrictions on Mexican trucks entering the United States.

Bush faces growing defense costs, vanishing tax surpluses and a stalled economy. He has compelling political reasons to limit spending in hopes of avoiding a parade of future deficits -- even if it means a fight with Congress.

"The president must balance maintaining national unity with sending a signal that all spending won't be tolerated," said Marshall Wittmann of the conservative Hudson Institute in Washington. Otherwise, Wittmann says, "The money isn't going to be there like it has been for the last several years."

One of the noisiest battles is over Democratic efforts to add billions to the $40-billion in antiterrorism spending Congress enacted three days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Bush says he will veto anything beyond the $40-billion. Administration officials argue that just $3.9-billion has been committed to contracts or spent. Bush says more than enough money remains until next year, when lawmakers can revisit defense and domestic security needs.

Democrats in both chambers say there is a need now to protect Russian nuclear material, hire sky marshals, purchase vaccines and take other steps to protect against bioterrorism. House votes on their drive for $13.7-billion more, including $6.5-billion for the Pentagon, could come this week.

Democrats also are pushing for more money for border guards and the Coast Guard, hoping to win GOP support from border and port states. For now, a rebellion has been put down among many New York Republicans trying to win more recovery funds for their city.

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