Yesterday the Senate added an extra $1 billion in election overhaul funding to the Transportation-Treasury spending bill (HR 2989). This allowed Congress to get back on track to fully funding the law.

Pushing back on President Bush’s budget which requested only $500 million, Senators worked in a bipartisan manner.

The Senate approved the extra funding by a voice vote after agreeing 63-31 to waive a budget point of order raised by Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). Allowing the $1 billion would bust the budget cap that President Bush is trying to enforce.

The original bill authorized nearly $3.9 billion in aid over three years. Congress appropriated about $567 million less in fiscal 2003 than was authorized. The states also have yet to receive $833 million appropriated last year.