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Senate Rejects Temporary Ban on Pork

Congress passes budget plans to roll back tax cuts

By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 14, 2008 7:59 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The Senate soundly rejected a bid to ban pork barrel spending for a year last night, despite the support of all three presidential candidates who returned to DC for a day of heavy voting, CNN reports. Both the House and Senate also passed budget plans—largely symbolic moves in an election year—that would allow many of President Bush's tax cuts to expire in about three years.

The measure to temporarily halt earmark spending failed 71-29. John McCain has made the issue a hallmark of his campaign, but he could get few of his GOP colleagues to go along. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were among only five Democrats to do so, the AP notes. McCain, who does not accept earmarks, called on Obama and Clinton to release their requests. Obama did so, then called on Clinton to do the same.

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., walks from a Senate vote on the budget, Thursday, March 13, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., walks from a Senate vote on the budget, Thursday, March 13, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., left, walks with Sen. Richard Durbin D-Ill., Thursday, March 13, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., left, walks with Sen. Richard Durbin D-Ill., Thursday, March 13, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks during a news conference, Thursday, March 13, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks during a news conference, Thursday, March 13, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
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Obama lists his earmarks
New York Times

Campaign weighs on budget votes
New York Times

Budget debates mostly hot air in an election year; real voting postponed
Associated Press

 
Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • John McCain • Senate • earmarks • tax cuts • pork barrel spending • budgets

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