WASHINGTON – The House overwhelmingly rejected President Bush's veto yesterday of a $290 billion farm bill, but what should have been a stinging defeat for the president became an embarrassment for Democrats.
Only hours before the House's 316-108 vote, Bush had vetoed the five-year measure, saying it was too expensive.
Action stalled, however, after the discovery that Congress had omitted a 34-page section of the bill when lawmakers sent the massive measure to the White House. That means Bush vetoed a different bill from the one Congress passed, raising questions on whether the eventual law would be unconstitutional. House Democrats hoped to pass the entire bill, again, today. The Senate was expected to follow suit. The correct version would then be sent to Bush under a new bill number.
Associated Press
Bush signs ban
of gene-test bias
WASHINGTON – President Bush signed legislation yesterday to protect people from losing their jobs or health insurance when genetic testing reveals they are susceptible to costly diseases.
Broadly embraced in Congress, the anti-discrimination measure aims to ensure that advances in DNA testing won't end up being used against people. The new law forbids employers and insurance companies from using genetic data to deny employment, promotions or health coverage.
Associated Press
Agency criticized in Minn. bridge collapse
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Transportation officials' concerns that fixing or replacing a Minneapolis bridge would be a “budget buster” may have led to bad maintenance decisions before its deadly collapse last August, a report released yesterday concluded.
The report, commissioned by the Legislature, also criticized the Minnesota Department of Transportation for inspections of the Interstate 35W bridge that were mishandled or not acted upon over the years.
Associated Press
