Base-closings initiative survives Senate vote

WASHINGTON – President Bush’s base-closings initiative was endorsed Tuesday by the Senate with strong support from Democrats, but it faces objections from House members who have tried to derail any mothballing of facilities.

The Senate vote of 53-47 stopped an effort to remove a base-closings provision from the $343 billion defense bill that authorizes money for the military efforts of the Defense and Energy departments for the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins both voted in the minority.

Before the authorization bill can become law, a House-Senate conference must resolve differences between the versions approved by each chamber. The House measure, which lawmakers passed Tuesday night, omits any mention of base closings.