House Rejects War-funding Bill

[unhappycamper]

House Rejects War-funding Bill
May 16, 2008
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - President Bush's Iraq war funding request collapsed in the House May 15 as anti-war Democrats and Republicans unhappy about added domestic funding combined to kill - for now - $163 billion to support U.S. troops overseas.

The unlikely coalition formed when Republicans expected to provide the winning margin for the Iraq and Afghanistan funding instead sat out the vote in protest.

The GOP revolt was a response to Democratic strong-arm tactics in advancing the must-pass measure, as well as their efforts to add money for the unemployed and an expansion of GI education benefits.

The defeat of the Iraq funding measure came on a 149-141 tally. Nearly two-thirds of the House's Democrats voted against continuing to fund the war as 132 Republicans sat out the vote in protest.

Democrats then forced through a nonbinding plan seeking an exit from Iraq by December of next year. The 227-196 vote on the measure broke mostly along party lines.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/house-rejects-warfunding-bill.html

[lligrd]

1. If They'd Have Done This Years Ago

it would have meant a hell of a lot more. Easy for them to jump on the bus now that they can clearly see where the public stands on the war but where were they when it counted?

[Merlot]

2. $163 billion to "support U.S. troops" overseas.

I prefer to call it what it is - War-Funding Bill. Or why not Occupation Funding Bill?

Saying it supports the troops is not accurate. It suports the war.

Supporting the troops means giving them healthcare, body armour, fixing the Vets hospital, getting them home.