updated 5:51 a.m. PT, Sat., Dec . 19, 2009
WASHINGTON – The Senate will send President Barack Obama a critical budget bill that combines money for the Pentagon with additional help for the jobless.
Senators meeting Saturday in the midst of a snow storm cleared their plate of unfinished business as the legislative calendar ran out for 2009.
The 88-10 vote means the Senate can return to the acrimonious debate on health care. Democrats hope to pass that bill before Christmas.
Story continues below ↓
——————————————————————————–
advertisement | your ad here
——————————————————————————–
The $626 billion defense bill contained $128 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and a 3.4 percent pay raise for the military.
It also included two-month extensions of unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless. There were health care subsidies for people out of work, along with money for highways and transit systems.
Please check back for details on this breaking news story.
More from msnbc.com
RedTape: DirecTV thrives on ‘deception,’ lawsuit says
Doctor’s mission to save Ethiopian kids’ hearts
Bad Santa: Gifts that say you’re old, fat or hairy
What hit Italian prime minister? Take our weekly quiz
Send your holiday pictures to troops
Send us your memories and images of the past decade
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Leave a Comment