Pubdate: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 2000 The Orange County Register Contact: P.O. Box 11626, Santa Ana, CA 92711 Fax: (714) 565-3657 Website: http://www.ocregister.com/ Section: News,page 7 SENATE TO DELAY BILL AUTHORIZING EMERGENCY FUNDS The Clinton administration blasted a plan by Senate leaders to delay a $13 billion emergency spending bill that includes money for combating drugs in Colombia, peace keeping in Kosovo and cleaning up after Hurricane Floyd. Meanwhile, the top U.S. military commander for Latin America implored Congress not to delay action on the portion of the package that would help Colombia and its neighbors fight drug traffickers. Marine Gen. Charles Wilhelm, commander in chief of the U.S. Southern Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the House-passed spending measure, which designates $1.7 billion for drug interdiction, "is crucial." - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart