News and Analysis Military Construction/VA Bill -- The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies adopted by voice vote the draft $109.2 billion spending bill, $4 billion more than President Bush's request. The full Appropriations Committee is expected take up the bill Thursday.

• Analysis: Although the Bush Administration had threatened to veto the bill on the grounds that it provides greater spending than the president had requested, it has not issued a Statement of Administration Policy repeating this threat, indicating that, as some Bush aides have conceded, the administration probably cannot sustain a veto -- most of the spending increase in the bill supports popular Veterans health programs.

Homeland Security Bill -- Debate on the $36.3 billion Homeland Security bill continued into the wee hours this morning. Narrowly edging out the administration's initial request by $2.1 billion, the bill drew a formal Statement of Administration Policy veto threat from the president yesterday, condeming it for "an irresponsible and excessive level of spending."

• Analysis: The increased spending in the bill is for improvements in aviation security, port and border security, and grant programs for first responders and interoperable communications, as recommended by the 9/11 Commission. The bill contains no earmarks, but Republicans say they still have about 100 amendments barring an assortment of hypothetical earmarks. Expect outrage expressed in New York accents.

Full Senate Appropriations Committee mark-ups on the above bills were scheduled to begin today.