The U.S. Senate passed $165 billion to fund the war in Iraq, which will last until the end of U.S. President George W. Bush's term. The much-contended bill was passed by a 70 to 26 vote just minutes after a majority of Republican lawmakers voted to add tens of billions of dollars for veteran's college aid and extending unemployment benefits to the war funding bill. The Republican add-ons came in comparison to Democratic lawmaker's push for greater domestic projects to be financed by the bill. Bush has promised to veto the bill if it contains the domestic measures, with enough Republican lawmaker support the veto. The U.S. House of Representatives still has to vote on the bill—last week they threatened to reject money that would continue the war. The Senate also voted 63 to 34 to block a Democratic plan to urge Bush to begin redeployment of combat troops and other roadblocks to continuing the war as it is now.
