Senate GOP OKs cuts to avert spending veto

Senate Republicans cut $3.6 billion from an emergency funding bill needed to keep the US government operating past midnight tonight (Nov. 20). The compromise cuts seek to avert a threatened presidential veto. The compromise exempts defense, foreign aid, entitlement programs, and food stamps from the cuts. The full Senate is expected to approve the compromise, but it's uncertain how the Democrat-controlled house will react. President Reagan, wo has threatened to veto the $417 billion stopgap spending bill unless it is cut, began "contingency planning" for shutting down government operations in case Congress does not pass a bill austere enough for him. The GOP plan would reduce the cost of the spending bill by 4 percent.