Bush Saves ‘Star Wars’ Funding

WASHINGTON — Vice President George Bush cast a rare tie-breaking vote today, saving the “Star Wars” program from an $800-million cut critics sought to make in the controversial defense system.

With the Senate deadlocked 50-50 on a move to kill the amendment, Bush voted to defeat the proposal. It was the seventh time Bush was called upon to break a tie. Four times he cast tie-breaking votes on defense bills, including two votes to rescue chemical weapons programs. He broke a tie in the nomination of Daniel Manion to be an appellate judge, and he broke a tie on a budget bill.