Senate Approves Defense Spending Bill
By: RNS
Updated: December 20, 2009
(Washington, DC) -- The Senate has approved a massive defense spending bill by an 88-10 vote.
The $626-billion measure includes nearly $130-billion for the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Following earlier passage by the House, the bill now goes to President Obama for his signature.
The unusually early weekend vote was necessitated by ongoing Republican procedural efforts to block healthcare reform.
Republicans hoped to slow down the defense bill to prevent Democrats from passing a health insurance reform bill by Christmas.
