U.S. House defeats $162.5 bln in new war funds (yeah)

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday defeated legislation that would have funded the war in Iraq for another year, in a surprise move that the Senate could overturn.

By a vote of 149-141, the Democrat-controlled House rejected a measure that would have given the Pentagon $162.5 billion to keep the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan running through next summer, slightly below President George W. Bush's request.

A large group of anti-war House Democrats voted against the funds. That, coupled with 132 Republicans voting "present," meaning neither "yes" nor "no," killed the measure for now.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSWBT00901020080515

[yellerpup]

1. Kick this!

They're BUSY today! :kick:

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. The Republicans sitting out on this vote is big news

Seems like they are trying to either save their seats or
pushing a show down.

[yellerpup]

11. Kinda nice to see 'em sweat.

They will come off bad no matter which way they go. How do you vote against a better deal for returning veterans and qualify that to your constituency--especially during an election year?

[maddezmom]

12. here's Putnam's explanation

Putnam said the idea to vote present and sink the spending bill came from appropriators and that GOP leaders had then signed off on it. He argued that Republicans would be insulated from attacks that they are not supporting the troops because of the party’s strong pro-military record.

The White House had issued a veto threat earlier in the day, criticizing the unemployment insurance extension, the new veterans' benefits and the “millionaire’s tax” that would pay for the tuition program.

But Democrats are spoiling for the veto fight. They think it will damage Republicans’ political chances in the fall if Bush vetoes legislation that pays for the war and helps veterans and the unemployed.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-gop-throws-iraq-funding-into-chaos-2008-05-15.html

[Ichingcarpenter]

20. I thought that is how the repugs would play it

but still good news.

[calimary]

24. They're the literate republi-CONS. They're able to read the writing on the wall

AND comprehend it, too. They're the ones who are WELL AWARE of the anger around the country - towards THEIR guy and THEIR party, and they're probably in districts where there's a strong and viable Democratic challenger breathing down their necks - and increased voter registration on the Democratic side. They're the ones with noses that still work (and not completely covered and clogged with bush's shit) - they can smell the coffee that's brewing.

[leftofcool]

2. It's about time

[maddezmom]

4. Proposal To Fund Iraq, Afghanistan Wars Defeated In House

By Corey Boles, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- In a surprise turn of events, the House Thursday voted down a proposal to continue funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The bill, which would have allocated $162.5 billion to pay for the wars into 2009, was defeated by lawmakers, with 146 Democratic members of the House voting against the measure.

The vote was 148-141, with a further 132 members abstaining from voting.

The vote was the first of three on a wider bill that would have funded the wars, changed U.S. policy towards the wars and paid for an unemployment insurance benefits extension, a program to pay for military veterans to go to college and other spending initiatives.

more:http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080515%5cACQDJON200805151600DOWJONESDJONLINE000984.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Proposal%20To%20Fund%20Iraq,%20Afghanistan%20Wars%20Defeated%20In%20House

[kevinmc]

7. Notice how DOW JONES didn't say it was Republicans only that abstained .. n/t

[Tight_rope]

5. Hot diggady damn!

Now they are listening to the peoples request. Finally.

[Blue_Tires]

6. wow...

I know the "we can't do this in an election year because it makes us look BAD" crowd is gonna be all over this...

[SnoopDog]

8. Lets be clear about what this means...

If the voting-present Republicans would have voted Yes, the end the war Democratic controlled House would have passed the funding.

Could someone please tell me why the Dems keep on funding this invasion.... Are the Dems in on the capper?

[saigon68]

13. Pelosi and Reid are protecting their corporate Lobbyists

Look for both of them to reap Large Corporate PACs funding in the future

They know which side of the bread the butter is on.

[Robbien]

17. You have that right. Dems wanted to fund the occupation. GOPers were against it.

Well GOPers voted no by abstaining and Progressive Dems voted No.

So DLC/Blue Dog Dems were the only ones left standing pushing for extension of the occupation. They thought they could make the whole thing a less bitter pill for Progressives by throwing in the extension of worker compensation. Progressives didn't bite.

GOPers just wanted to be obstructionists. Their plan is to vote no on everything coming through the House which is why they also voted against honoring mothers on Mothers Day.

[cyclezealot]

9. Republican game playing`

As far as I am concerned, the Repugs voted no. Blame them too. In part, My call to Rep. Dingell worked. For the first time he voted against war funding.

[bluesmail]

10. wow! indeed. K&R

[cliss]

14. Prediction:

Just watch, by next week the Pentagon will announce:

U.S. troops will not get their pay checks, starting May 30. We simply don't have the money too bad US troops. See what happens when you cut off our funding?

[sybylla]

19. Yep, and the Dems get the blame

Should help in an election year. :sarcasm:

[lonestarnot]

23. See what happens when a bushitler drives her into the ground! Dems my ass!

[Occulus]

22. Play chicken

Cut DARPA's funding by a requisite amount and reroute it by legislation to the soldiers themselves, with riders for housing and food and so forth.

Doing so would make Congress rosy in the eyes of the soldiers, while at the same time putting the President and his cabal in the uncomfortable position of threatening to veto- if they dared make the threat- soldier pay and housing relief.

Rinse and repeat as necessary.

[xchrom]

15. recommend - whatever gets a showdown with bush. nt

[CountAllVotes]

16. oh goody!!!

I'm enjoying sitting back and watching the show right now. Oh YES I CAN!

:popcorn:

OBAMA '08!!

:dem:

[debunkthelies]

18. KandR

I see this happening more and more in the House, unless they get a veto proof majority.

[joe_oly]

21. War F-F-F-Funding

OBAMA/EDWARDS 08

[calimary]

25. Welcome to DU!

Obama/Edwards sounds rawther tasty, although I think Edwards would probably wind up as Attorney General. Which would be a spectacular way to rehabilitate the Justice Department (which will need it quite desperately).

[and-justice-for-all]

26. What took so fucking long!!! damn!

Fuck You ShrubCo!!