Vote on Spending Plan Is Delayed

Congressional leaders have postponed until after the Memorial Day recess consideration of a $3 trillion spending plan for the fiscal year that begins in Oct. 1.

The Senate had planned to vote yesterday on the budget blueprint, after a House vote scheduled for late Wednesday. Approval of the spending plan would mark the first time since 2000 that Congress has passed a budget in an election year.

Both votes were called off after a major procedural problem delayed lawmakers' ability to override President Bush's veto of the farm bill. House leaders decided not to vote on the budget until the farm bill was done.

Since the House must vote first on the budget, the Senate was forced to delay its vote, though the Democratic presidential candidates -- Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) -- had come to Washington for the occasion.

-- Lori Montgomery