Cheney Breaks Senate Tie

[irishgrl]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051221/...get_passage_dc

Senate passes spending cuts after Cheney breaks tie 5 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday narrowly passed a bill to trim nearly $40 billion from federal spending over five years, including cuts to social welfare programs such as health care for the elderly and poor.

Vice President Dick Cheney, in his role as president of the Senate, broke a 50-50 tie when he voted in favor of the spending cuts.

The House of Representatives approved the measure on Monday. But during debate in the Senate, Democrats forced a minor change to the bill, requiring the House to act again, probably on Thursday.