Congress never passed the required spending bills for 2003 in 2002, as it normally would, because the Republican House and the Democratic Senate could not agree on a final package. However, the 2002 elections gave Republican control over both chambers of Congress, so they pressed forward with a spending plan in early January 2003. Specter (R-PA) proposed an amendment to this spending plan that would protect employees of U.S. Airways during the airline's bankruptcy reorganization. The amendment clarified that the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation could allow the reorganization plan to change the company's pension from a five-year payout to a 30-year payout. Progressives supported this change, because the employees of U.S. Airways had agreed to the 30-year payout as the only way to save the company from going under. However, many Republicans were concerned that the issue was raised in a spending bill and did not follow the normal channels. Grassley (R-IA) moved to table (kill) the amendment. Progressives voted against this motion to table, but the motion still passed with majorities of both parties, 64-31. The Specter amendment was rejected.