By a 55-41 vote, the Senate effectively endorsed Bush's position against the office, which would be subject to Senate confirmation and have broad budgetary powers. The office was included in the Democratic version of the bill setting up a new Homeland Security Department, but Bush sees it as an unwarranted congressional intrusion.
Although a final vote was put off on an amendment removing the office entirely from the bill, 48 Republicans joined six Democrats and independent, Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont, in siding with the president on the preliminary vote.
"It's clear from the vote we have just taken that a majority of the Senate feels it goes too far," said Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., of the proposed office.
Less certain was whether that coalition would hold on the other main controversy in the debate over the new department: whether the president would have greater powers to hire and fire, or exempt from union coverage, the proposed agency's 170,000 workers.
But Republicans said the vote on the anti-terrorism office showed that Bush has the upper hand in the creation of an agency intended to protect Americans from terrorism at home.
"We ought to give the president the benefit of the doubt," said Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.
The homeland security office occupied by Tom Ridge was created by Bush last year via executive order. The White House strongly resisted congressional efforts to force Ridge to testify on Capitol Hill, and Bush has made it clear he wants to keep Ridge's counsel about potential threats and U.S. intelligence confidential.
"He's entitled to have his own counsel with regard to this," Thompson said.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., chief sponsor of the Democratic bill, attempted to offer a compromise on the anti-terrorism office but he was blocked by a fellow Democrat, Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who threatened a filibuster. Byrd favors greater congressional involvement in homeland security.
"I am in favor of creating a Department of Homeland Security, but I am not in favor of Congress doing that and then walking away," Byrd said.
With that latest delay, it appeared likely that most action on the homeland-security bill would be put off until next week. Earlier Thursday, House Republicans heaped scorn on Senate Democrats for the slow pace, noting that the House passed its bill in July.
"There's no excuse for not giving the people of this country a homeland-security bill," said House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said the more careful Senate debate would produce "a much better bill" than the House version.
"This is too big an issue, too important a concept, for us to rush through," Daschle told reporters.
Despite the differences, the House and Senate bills both give Bush much of what he wants in a new Homeland Security Department, including transfer of more than 22 agencies such as the Coast Guard, Border Patrol, Transportation Security Administration, Customs Service and Secret Service.
Copyright 2002. Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
