Senators Frist and Lamar found themselves in the minority on Bill: H R 4939 in the senate but in the majority among southern Appalachian senators. The senate voted the bill in 78-20 but TN, NC, SC, KY, AL, WV voted 7-4 3against the bill. Republicans were split on the bill (34-20) with more Republicans in favor.

On May 2nd, Senator Frist issued the following statement to the press regarding the vote:

"Families must live within their means, and so should Washington. We need to tighten the belt and follow a course of strict fiscal discipline. The President has taken a strong stance on a must-pass piece of legislation that will bolster our national security, hurricane recovery and border security efforts.[...]We need to support our troops in the field who are fighting to protect us. We need to support our fellow citizens who are working hard to rebuild and recover their homes and communities on the Gulf Coast. And we need to focus resources on securing our border against illegal immigration. That is what this vote is about. These are extraordinary responsibilities, and we cannot play politics with such critical matters."

President Bush said he would veto any bill with a cost exceeding $94.5 billion and the senate bill exceeds that amount by $14.5 billion and slips in funding for projects that don't fit the description provided by President Bush.

Since the house passed a much less costly version of the bill, some think the senate's version is DOA. Others expect a showdown.