House Approves Bill Limiting Afghan Aid (AP)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

House Approves Bill Limiting Afghan Aid
House Passes Bill That Would Cut Aid to Afghans Tied
to Drug Trade, Terrorism

By ANNE FLAHERTY Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON Jun 6, 2007 (AP)

The House passed $6.4 billion legislation Wednesday that would cut off
U.S. aid to local governments in Afghanistan with ties to drug dealers,
criminals or terrorists, a standard the White House says is unrealistic.

The legislation was pushed heavily by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who said
not enough was being done to curb Afghanistan's growing opium market.
Its passage marked increasing tension between the Bush administration,
which says it has sole province on foreign policy matters, and lawmakers
who say Congress must have a role in overseeing assistance programs.

-snip-

The White House countered that the bill would tie the president's hands
in responding to a complex situation.

-snip-

The bill, passed by a 406-10 vote, would authorize $2.1 billion in
humanitarian, economic and military assistance programs for budget year
2008, which begins Oct. 1. The remaining $4 billion would be spent
through 2010.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3252550