House passes Iraq withdrawal bill [View All]

[Terri S]

The House tonight passed a $50 billion Iraq funding bill that sets a "goal" of having all U.S. forces out of the country by Dec. 2008, the latest move in the ongoing political struggle over the war.

The "Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act" was adopted by a vote of 218 to 203, with only four Republicans - Reps. Phil English (Pa.), Walter Jones (N.C.), Christopher Shays (Conn.) and James Walsh (N.Y.) - backing  the measure.

Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), who has backed other Democratic withdrawal bills, did not vote.

Fifteen Democrats opposed the bill - Reps. Tom Allen (Maine), Brian Baird (Wash.), John Barrow (Ga.), Dan Boren (Okla.), Jim Cooper (Tenn.), Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), Nick Lampson (Texas), Jim Marshall (Ga.), Jim Matheson (Utah), Michael McNulty (N.Y.), Michael Michaud (Maine), Vic Snyder (Ark.), Pete Stark (Wash.), Gene Taylor (Miss.), and John Tanner (Tenn.).

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) voted present.

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Update - White House Press Secretary Dana Perino just issued the following statement on the House vote: "Today the House of Representatives passed on a largely party-line vote legislation that would only partially fund our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but fully embolden our enemies. Once again, the Democratic leadership is taking this debate down a well-worn path that calls for arbitrary withdrawal from the battlefield, despite the gains our military has made over the past year. These votes, like the dozens of previous failed votes, put the interests of radical interest groups ahead of the needs of our military and their mission. If legislation comes to the President in this form, he will certainly veto it."

Perino also said that Bush wants Congress to send him a clean Iraq funding bill before it adjourns for the year in December.
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From Pelosi:

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