The Senate overwhelmingly approved the FY 09 defense authorization bill Wednesday after a showdown over earmarks with Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) forced Democrats to scuttle plans to attach a massive "manager's package" of amendments to the annual legislation.
After of roughly 100 amendments were taken off the table, the Senate voted 88-8 to approve the bill. The measure now goes to a Conference Committee to be reconciled with the House version, which must be wrapped up in the next week in order to receive final consideration.
AGC is keeping close watch over the reauthorization, which includes several contracting reform provisions, and may include a potential contractor database provision by Senator Clare McCaskill (D-Mo.) and a blacklisting provision by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).
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