Appropriation Bill Awaiting Senate Action

October 6, 1999

The Senate has not yet taken final action on the 2000 agriculture spending bill approved by the House of Representatives last week. Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) said yesterday he hopes to see a vote on the measure this week, but acknowledged there would be some debate. On Friday, Lott said he hopes the agriculture conference report could be approved Monday or Tuesday.

Though some East Coast Senators suggested they might filibuster the conference report, a sustained delay appeared unlikely as several Democratic Senators said they would reluctantly vote for the bill. At least one Senator, Robert Torricelli (D-NJ), has urged President Clinton to veto the appropriations bill, but that also seemed unlikely.