WASHINGTON (AP) - The House voted Wednesday to back Attorney General John Ashcroft's plan to shorten to one day the time the government keeps background-check records of gun buyers, delivering a setback to gun control advocates.

In the year's first major vote on the volatile issue of guns, lawmakers voted 268-161 to reject an effort by Rep. James Moran, D-Va., that would have required the FBI to keep the records for at least the 90 days currently mandated.

Ashcroft proposed truncating that period last month, arguing that the shorter period would still let the records be audited for fraud and abuse while better protecting the privacy of legal gun purchasers. The National Rifle Association, which lost a federal lawsuit aimed at destroying the records immediately after the checks were conducted, has called Ashcroft's proposal a ``step in the right direction.''

``There is no reason whatsoever for the government to retain those records,'' said Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga.

Moran and others argued that it is important to keep the records longer so the FBI can determine whether the instant-check system is being used fraudulently, such as through the use of false identities by dealers or buyers.

``If we don't have a reasonable retention period, this system is not going to work,'' Moran said.

The ultimate fate of Ashcroft's plan is unclear. In the Democratic-controlled Senate, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has introduced legislation that would require the government to keep the records for at least 90 days.

The debate came as the House voted 408-19 to approve a $41.5 billion measure financing the departments of State, Justice and Commerce in the coming fiscal year.

The gun records are kept under an instant-check system set up by the so-called Brady Law, which is aimed at preventing felons, drug addicts and others from purchasing guns. The system electronically checks millions of law enforcement records while buyers wait to pick up their guns, with nearly all checks completed within two hours.

The system has stopped 156,000 illegal purchases since it began in November 1998, according to the FBI.

Until recently, the records were kept for 180 days. But that period was halved due to a Clinton administration rule that took effect this month.

The overall spending bill contains $700 million more than President Bush requested, and $1.7 billion more than is being spent this year. Fiscal 2002 begins Oct. 1.

The measure would boost spending over this year's levels for federal prisons, the FBI, and enforcement of anti-drug and immigration laws. It would provide about the same as this year for contributions to international organizations like the United Nations, international peacekeeping and legal services for the poor.

As has occurred on many of this year's spending bills, the administration complained that the legislation contains too many projects earmarked for lawmakers' home districts. Included is money to buy video cameras for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and for gang-prevention efforts in Syracuse, N.Y.

In a written statement, the White House budget office said the bill has at least $329 million for 220 such projects - about $141 million and 131 projects above the bill approved last year.

Meanwhile, House-Senate bargainers informally completed all but the last details of a compromise $6.5 billion measure financing defense and other programs for the last weeks of this year.

The bill will not include $1.3 billion for disaster assistance that House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, wanted but was opposed by the Bush administration. DeLay's district was battered by Tropical Storm Allison in June, but administration officials have argued the government has enough disaster money until next year.

The two chambers' bargainers are expected to complete the compromise bill Thursday. Congress could approve it Friday.