Sunshine Peeking Through?

The Republicans suffered another major setback today in trying to finance Bush's taax cuts for the wealthiest Americans on the backs of the poor. The Democrats stuck together and 22 moderate Republicans voted down this awful bill that included all kinds of cuts to programs that help the poorest in the nation including large cuts in the heating assistance program just when we are looking at an upcoming disaster with respect to people being able to afford to heat their homes this year. All I can say is it's about time.

WASHINGTON -- Legislation to fund many of the nation's health, education and social programs went down to a startling defeat in the House Thursday, led by Democrats who said cuts in the bill hurt some of America's neediest people.The 224-209 vote against the $142.5 billion spending bill disrupted plans by Republican leaders to finish up work on this year's spending bills and cast doubt on whether they would have the votes to pass a major budget-cutting bill also on the day's agenda.

Democrats, unanimous in opposing the legislation, said it included the first cut in education funding in a decade and slashed spending for several health care programs. "It betrays our nation's values and its future," said House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland. "It is neither compassionate, conservative nor wise."