Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

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Senate Challenges Bush on Veto Threat
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: September 9, 2004


ASHINGTON, Sept. 8 (AP) - The Senate ignored a White House veto threat on Wednesday and voted to block President Bush from handing some Homeland Security Department jobs to private companies.

The 49-to-47 vote was a victory for Democrats and labor unions of federal workers. Five Republicans voted with the Democrats.

The language was added to a $32 billion bill financing the Homeland Security Department next year. The White Housewarned of the veto in a statement to lawmakers, saying the amendment would "preclude public-private competition and turn back efforts to significantly improve customer service for immigrants."

Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, a chief sponsor of the provision, said it was intended to prevent President Bush from replacing 1,100 immigration officers.Republicans said the workers performed administrative duties.

Five Republicans from states with a significant presence of organized labor joined Democrats in voting : Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Christopher S. Bond of Missouri and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania