The House and Senate appropriations committees are wrangling over anti-environmental riders attached to a massive spending bill that would fund military action in Kosovo and send hurricane relief to Central America. House Speaker Denny Hastert (R-Ill.) and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) are insisting that most riders that add significantly to the bill’s projected cost be dropped. But many of the riders most feared by enviros would not add to the bill’s bottom line. The White House is threatening to veto unless riders are dropped. Moderate Republicans are also objecting to the anti-environmental riders; Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) said more than 20 of his colleagues have signed a letter objecting to riders tacked on by the Senate.
