We wanted to bring you up to date on an item we posted this week on an attempt by a Minnesota Democrat to bar the Defense Department from spending money to sponsor NASCAR race cars.

The U.S. Army spent $7 million last year on the program and Rep. Betty McCollum's office called that a waste of money.

Today, the Republican-controlled House did not agree. It voted 148-241 against McCollum's proposed amendment that would have barred Pentagon use of government funds to sponsor NASCAR race cars.

The Marines, Navy and Coast Guard dropped their NASCAR sponsorship in 2006.