War spending bill passes with add-ons

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a $162 billion war spending plan Thursday, sending to President Bush legislation that will pay for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan until the next president takes office.

The bill, approved 92-6, includes a historic boost in college aid for troops, plus a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits and $2.7 billion in emergency flood relief for the Midwest.

The Senate, however, narrowly failed to approve a House-passed bill to cancel a scheduled cut in payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients.

It also failed to resolve differences over home mortgage legislation and the administration’s electronic surveillance program. Those matters will await lawmakers when they return from a 10-day July break.