Congress has been brought to a grinding halt by hardening Democratic and Republican stances on taxes and spending just days before lawmakers begin leaving Washington for Christmas and New Year’s.

The two sides are, in some cases, refusing even to speak to each other about the massive omnibus and an Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) bill…Read more here

The Labor HHS veto override did not pass with enough votes last night. The Yeas did not have the 2/3 majority required to override President Bush.

Congress has now left for Thanksgiving recess. They will return December 4th to begin the process of revamping the spending bill and trying to finish all other legislative business before the end of the year.

I have attached the Roll Call vote, and encourage everyone to contact their Member of Congress and express either your gratitude for their YES vote or your disappointment in their NO vote. Hold them accountable!

As I wrote in yesterday’s blog, President Bush vetoed the Labor, Health and Human Service, and Education Spending bill for Fiscal Year 2008. This bill contained a 3.1 percent increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The bill now returns to the Congress for a veto override vote. This is a chance for Congress to hold the President to task and force him to properly fund these programs and provide for advancement in research.

Please take this time to contact your Member of Congress and urge them to vote YES for the override. I have attached a list of target members.

If you see your Representative’s name on this list please get on the phone ASAP! Timing is of the essence.

President Bush vetoed the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education spending bill today. The bill would increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by 3.1 percent over Fiscal Year 2007.

The Bush Administration has been in a fight with Congress over their domestic spending level and has threatened to veto any bill above what was proposed by his Administration.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, had this to say. “With today’s veto, the president has shown once again how out of touch and out of step he is with the values of America’s families,” he said. “Cancer research, investments in our schools, job training, protecting workers, and many other urgent priorities have all fallen victim to a president who squanders billions of dollars in Iraq but is unwilling to invest in America’s future.” (The Washington Post)

The bill will now be sent back to Congress for a veto override vote.

Last week Congress passed the Labor HHS Appropriations bill. This bill will provide an additional $899 million, a 3.1 percent increase, for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Of this $899 million, $128 million will be allocated to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

President Bush has threatened to veto this spending bill. He has proposed a $480 million cut to NIH. The veto could come as early as today and then it will be sent back to Congress for an override vote sometime between Tuesday and Friday of this week before they leave for Thanksgiving Recess.

I urge you to contact your Member of Congress and ask them to override the President’s veto!