Senators Compromise on Intelligence Bill

[Khephra]

November 8, 2004, 7:34 PM EST

WASHINGTON -- Senators on Monday gave in to several House demands on compromise legislation dealing with the Sept. 11 commission's anti-terrorism recommendations, including keeping the intelligence budget secret, increasing border security forces and banning aliens who have been trained by terrorist groups.

"We hope that the House will embrace our offer and move forward with us to send an intelligence reform bill to the full Congress and to the president's desk before the end of the year," said Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., leaders of the Senate negotiators.

However, House and Senate conferees still are nowhere close to full agreement.

"We're happy that they've given us an counteroffer and our committees are examining it closely right now," said John Feehery, spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-congress-intelligence,0,3064645.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[goobergunch]

1. Senate caves again....

Has the Senate ever gotten the better of a conference report in either the 107th or 108th Congresses? Because I can't think of any....

[Khephra]

2. Not that I can recall....