House narrowly OKs bill to slow entitlement growth

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House Republican leaders passed a critical test yesterday, holding their troops together so the House could clear a bill that slows the growth of entitlement programs by $39 billion.

The belt-tightening bill, which the House sent to President Bush by a vote of 216-214 yesterday, marks the first time since 1997 that Congress has held back entitlement spending.

The vote was also a crucial win for acting House Majority Leader Roy Blunt, Missouri Republican, who faces two challengers today in a race to win the leadership role outright.

"Our members did their hard work again," Mr. Blunt said. "Once again, House Republicans are on record as defending budget discipline."

The House already approved the budget bill in December, 212-206, before leaving town for the holidays, but Senate Democrats managed to change a few minor portions before the Senate approved it -- forcing the measure to sit out in the public spotlight for more than a month until the House reconvened yesterday to reapprove it.

In another move yesterday to clean up business left over from the end of last session, the House extended the USA Patriot Act for five more weeks while negotiators from both parties continue working on a permanent compromise.

Yesterday's voice vote is the second time that Congress has elected to extend the law while it continues negotiations. The Senate is expected to approve the extension as early as today. Without the extension, the bill would expire tomorrow.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., Wisconsin Republican, expressed frustration yesterday that a group of senators had not already accepted the version of the Patriot Act that passed the House.

"These opponents in the other body have repeatedly cited their concern for civil liberties as a justification for their obstruction," he said. "Ironically, the conference report that has been blocked contains dozens of vital civil liberties protections -- many included at their request" and not included in the current law, which Congress is extending.

On the spending bill, Democrats and advocacy groups who staunchly oppose it used the monthlong interlude to pressure some of the more liberal Republicans who had supported the bill reluctantly to change their vote to no.