[JURIST] The US House Appropriations Committee [official website] late Wednesday voted 62-2 to amend an emergency appropriations bill for Iraq and Gulf Coast reconstruction with a provision [PDF] blocking a controversial takeover of operations at six US ports [JURIST news archive] by United Arab Emirates-owned Dubai Ports World [corporate website].

The amendment, which is expected to be debated in the full House next week, sets up a possible confrontation with the White House, which has threatened to veto the bill if it comes with that provision. Reuters has more.

10:11 AM ET 3/9/06 – Senate Democrats are also pushing a measure that would block the ports deal and are seeking to attach the measure to proposed legislation reforming lobbying rules. A procedural vote to block a vote on the ports deal is expected as early as Thursday, but the vote is expected to fail and Senate Republican leaders say they might temporarily take the lobbying reform bill off the floor in order to avoid delaying the ports deal. AP has more.