Analysis: Health spending bill passed

WASHINGTON, July 19 (UPI) -- The House passed a nearly $610 billion spending bill Thursday to fund health and education programs, earning a threat to block the bill from President Bush.

Lawmakers approved the measure 276-140, agreeing to spend $477 billion on programs through the Department of Health and Human Services in Fiscal 2008, $5 billion more than the White House had laid out in its budget.

Democrats controlling the House have repeatedly clashed with the president over spending bills. Thursdays Labor-HHS appropriations bill is the largest of all those used to fund federal programs, and Democrats have sought to use it as a cudgel against the White House over domestic priorities.

The bill spends $29.3 million on the National Institutes of Health, $1 billion more than the White House had requested. It also increases spending at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on family planning programs, and on rural health programs.

Democrats cast their bill as a long-term investment in health and education, which they said has been endangered by tax cuts for the wealthy championed by President Bush.

"If we do not think in the long term, if we do not recognize the kind of country we will be in 10 years, we will not make the investments necessary to prepare for that world and we will be shortchanging the future of every American," said Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., chair of the Appropriations Committee.

Democrats succeeded in turning away several Republican-sponsored amendments to reduce the bill's spending.

John Boehner, R-Ohio, the House Minority Leader, blasted the bill as irresponsible.

"We are mortgaging our children's future by continuing to raise taxes and increase spending," he said. "How much is enough?"

The Senate has yet to pass its version of the bill.