Democratic efforts to increase spending bill halted in Senate 01/17/2003 Los Angeles Times WASHINGTON – Holding firm for President Bush, Senate Republicans on Thursday killed Democratic attempts to add billions of dollars for domestic security and education to a $390 billion bill that would fund the government through September. On a 51-45 vote, the Senate rejected an amendment by Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., to spend $5 billion more for security at ports, nuclear plants and other facilities. Hours later, the Senate defeated, 51-46, a proposal by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., to spend $6 billion more on education. Both votes showed...