The U.S. Congress on Tuesday gave final approval to a $410 billion spending bill, and will now send it to receive the signature of U.S. President Barack Obama. The bill, which was delayed for a vote last week, will boost domestic spending, loosen the trade embargo on Cuba and fund thousands of congressional pet projects known as earmarks. The legislation passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 25. Democrats said the bill would provide needed funding increases for federal agencies that received little funding under the former administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. “The agencies of our government have been so under-funded and under-resourced during the Bush years that these agencies need this money so they can function properly,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, (Democrat from Nevada). Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, (Republican from Kentucky), said lawmakers should not be providing so much spending when the government is projected to run record deficits. “This bill costs far too much for a government that should be watching every dime,” he said. Eight Republicans voted yesterday to bring debate on the matter to a close and put the bill to a voice vote. Three Democrats, Evan Bayh of Indiana, Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, voted against ending the debate, which required 60 votes to pass.
