|
May 6, 2008
Posted: 06:45 PM ET
From CNN Congressional Producer Deirdre Walsh
House Democratic leaders unveiled new legislation Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Defying President Bush's demand to send him a clean war funding bill, House Democratic leaders unveiled legislation Tuesday that conditions the money on withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and adds billions of dollars in domestic spending. House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, D-Wisconsin, outlined a $183.7 billion package that combines money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for the remainder of 2008 with additional funding requested by the administration to continue military operations through early 2009. Democrats insisted their bill stays roughly within the overall spending limit set by the White House, but they included two major domestic items — unemployment assistance and a new GI Bill that expands college benefits for veterans — that would cost about $12 billion. Obey argued the add-ons are emergency spending and therefore shouldn't be included in the overall price tag. The bill would redirect over $3 billion of the president's request to pay for additional international food aid, levees in New Orleans and more resources for military childcare centers and hospitals.
Obey said that Democratic leaders turned down over 100 requests for other domestic programs, such as summer jobs and infrastructure projects, and that they limited spending to things they deemed true emergencies. "There is not a single piece of pork, not a single member project," he said. The Democrats' plan would place a number of restrictions on the administration, Obey told reporters. It would tie the war money to a requirement the Pentagon begin withdrawing U.S. troops, with the goal of The bill would also require the United States to adhere to prisoner interrogation standards set out in the U.S. Army Field manual — which bans torture, including "water boarding." It would require all U.S. agreements with the government of Iraq to be submitted to Congress in the form of a treaty needing Senate ratification. The legislation would also force the Iraqi government to shoulder more of the costs for reconstruction projects. Half of the funds for these projects would be grants, the other half loans. In order to move the bill quickly and avoid attempts to change it, Democratic leaders are bypassing the usual committee process. The plan is to hold three votes Thursday on the House floor — one on the war funding itself, one on the funding restrictions and one on the additional domestic spending. The entire package would then go to the Senate, but a senior Democratic leadership aide acknowledged it's unlikely the funding restrictions would pass. By keeping the overall cost of the bill close to the president's limit, Democrats hope he will not veto it. The leadership aide argued the GI bill and money for unemployment benefits should pass the Senate, increasing pressure on the White House to accept the entire bill. Obey said Democrats want to avoid a veto, but he asked, "How can you be for squirreling away $200 billion on this misbegotten, godforsaken war and not be for providing a GI bill expansion?" House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, denounced the bill. "It is unacceptable and, indeed, unimaginable for Congress to continue to hold our troops hostage for political leverage," he said. "If House Democrats want to ramp up spending on other government programs, those items should be considered separately. A troop funding bill should fund the troops. Period." Filed under: Congress |
The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com. CNN=Politics Screensaver
New in the Ticker
Follow us on Twitter
Categories
Popular Posts
|
|
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNN makes reasonable efforts to review all comments prior to posting and CNN may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
|
|