Sept. 17, 2001 | WASHINGTON (AP) --
Looking to quickly approve new defense spending, Senate Democrats are setting aside their effort to block the missile defense money if the activity would violate a 1972 arms control treaty.
Republicans had vehemently opposed the provision, saying it tied President Bush's hands. It had been expected to trigger a fight on the Senate floor as lawmakers considered the $343 billion defense authorization bill for the year that begins Oct. 1.
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Both parties are anxious to approve the defense bill. So Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle, in consultation with Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., decided to postpone any consideration of missile defense money until later.
"There will be an appropriate time to bring this up for debate, but this week is not the appropriate time," Daschle's spokeswoman, Anita Dunn, said Monday.
The version of the bill approved by the Republican-led House Armed Services Committee in July contains no such provision.