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Democratic leaders Thursday quickly rejected President Bush’s demand that they pass the Iraq supplemental spending bill on his terms, but didn’t lay out their own plans. “We’ve been working on this for some time,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). “We have a plan and we will execute it.” He did not give any details of that plan except to suggest that it might include a new “GI Bill of Rights” that has already been introduced in the House and Senate, as well as “dwell time” legislation. The new GI bill would provide additional benefits to veterans, while the dwell time bill would ensure that troops have longer stays at home before returning overseas. “The president need not lecture us on taking care of the troops,” Reid said in a joint press conference Thursday with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). “We are taking care of the troops.” In his address to the nation on Iraq, Bush said: “Members of Congress must pass a bill that provides our troops the resources that they need and does not tie the hands of our commanders or impose artificial timelines for withdrawal.” He said the bill should be fiscally responsible and exceed his $108 billion funding request. “If the bill meets all the requirements it will be a strong show of support for our troops. If it doesn't I will veto it,” he said.
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