WORLD : Committee Defeats Move to Slash Bush’s Aid Plan for Nicaraguan Vote

WASHINGTON — President Bush’s plan for $9 million in U.S. aid for the Nicaraguan elections moved ahead in Congress today despite misgivings from Democrats who said the idea amounted to blatant interference in another country’s politics.

The House Appropriations Committee, on a voice vote, sent the measure to the full House after defeating a move to slash the package to just $400,000 to pay for election observers. The House is scheduled to take up the measure on Wednesday.

Bush’s proposal provides $5 million to the National Endowment for Democracy, a quasi-governmental agency that promotes democratic processes in other countries, and $4 million for other “election support.”

Some support could go directly to the opposition coalition supporting presidential candidate Violeta Chamorro, who is challenging Nicaragua’s Sandinista-backed President Daniel Ortega.

Rep. David R. Obey (D-Wis.) called the package “a turkey” and “misguided,” but urged fellow Appropriations Committee members to send the measure to the full House in accord with a promise to Bush by the House Democratic leadership.