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House approves Iraq funding bill 218-208 |
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By Mike Soraghan
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Posted: 04/25/07 10:05 PM [ET] |
The House Wednesday night approved an Iraq spending bill that sets a goal for withdrawal of April 1, 2008, the second-to-last step needed to trigger a veto confrontation with President Bush on the war.
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill Thursday, and is expected to pass it and send it on to Bush, who has pledged to veto it. It is not clear what will happen next except that both sides say they will not leave troops in the field without the money they need.
The vote was 218-208. Two members changed their votes. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), who had previously voted “no,” voted “present.” Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.), who had previously voted “no,” voted “yes.”
The vote came after a relatively brief debate Wednesday night that largely replayed last month’s vote on the House floor. Republicans accused Democrats of “micromanaging” the war. Democrats said Republicans and Bush simply want to “stay the course.”
“The policy is not set by the military. The policy is set by the White House and we have to hold the White House responsible for the mistakes they have made,” said Defense Appropriations Chairman John Murtha (D-Pa.).
But Republicans said the end result of the Democrats’ tactics is that troops are not getting what they need.
“Democrats are doing their best to make sure the troops in the field do not have the funds they need,” said Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), drawing catcalls and boos from the other side of the aisle.
The vote came after a classified briefing by Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the multi-national forces in Iraq, turned into a public spectacle surrounded by political charges and followed by two press conferences.
Last week, Democrats initially declined an invitation to the briefing due to scheduling conflicts, but they reconsidered after Republicans chided them for skipping a briefing with a key commander while setting policies on the conflict.
Still, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) did not attend. It was not clear where she was Wednesday afternoon. Aides did not return calls Wednesday.
“The Speaker found time to meet with the President of a state sponsor of terrorism but somehow can’t find the time to meet with the American general in charge of our troops,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio).
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said that it is tradition for House speakers to receive individual briefings rather than sitting through group sessions. Pelosi spoke to Petraeus by phone.
“I think the speaker’s got better things to do, frankly,” agreed Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.). “They didn’t say anything they haven’t said in public.”
House Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) charged that the bill could require public notification and a 15-day waiting period for secret missions, such as a hostage rescue by special counter-terror units.
“Now these units will have to wait for the 15-day ‘Pelosi waiting period,’” Hunter said.
Democratic aides challenged Hunter’s assertion, saying that the bill provides a national security exemption for such missions.
Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) said that Emerson changed her vote after “thinking about this for a long, long time.” He said he came into the vote on the late side and saw her sitting next to Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), who also voted yes.
“He said, ‘She voted present,’” Jones recalled. “I know Jo Ann is a very sensitive, deep thinker. That was a very strong statement on her part. There are a lot of Republicans who are really concerned we don’t have a plan for victory.” |
