Pelosi weighs revised war funding bill

[babylonsister]

Source: AP

Pelosi weighs revised war funding bill

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer 33 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) is considering a proposal that would pay for the Iraq war through at least July but cut off funding after that if the Iraqi government does not meet certain political and security goals, Democratic officials said Thursday.

The bill would be a direct challenge to President Bush, who says he cannot accept any legislation that would tie his hands on the war. This week, Bush vetoed a $124.2 billion bill that would have funded operations in Iraq and Afghanistan while requiring troops to begin coming home on Oct. 1.

The White House and Democratic leaders began negotiations Thursday on a possible compromise on the war spending bill.

In a closed-door leadership meeting, Rep. David Obey (news, bio, voting record), D-Wis., suggested that the House fund the war through July and provide some extra funding to ensure the military does not become strapped for cash. The bill also would identify benchmarks that must be met by the Iraqi government; if the government fails, the bill would prohibit funding the war past the end of July.

Under Obey's proposal, members would vote separately on whether to fund some of the domestic spending in the Iraq bill that Bush opposed, such as agricultural assistance.

more...

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070503/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq;_ylt=A9G_RyEBfjpGtvwAoBGs0NUE

[Rydz777]

1. I see this as bad news

"Benchmarks" are a fraud, smoke and mirrors, which will permit Bush to continue his misbegotten war. We need fixed dates for cutting off funding with no loopholes.

[INdemo]

3. I like John Edward's idea.....Send * another bill with a withdrawal date

and let him veto it..Then send him another bill with the the date included..
and so forth and so on....Eventually * will sign it..Hell Bush has purposely insured that this war has become the Democrats problem..He will never end this war..he wants us to take over this night mare..

[IndianaGreen]

4. Edwards and Kucinich are right on target on funding this war

Congress should bite the bullet, and stop funding this war.

[acmavm]

2. I'm so damn sick and tired of the word 'benchmarks'. Where do these

friggin' people get this shit. From the same gremlin in the White House basement that came up with Shock and Awe and Operation Iraqi Freedom?

They'd best not drop the timeline to get our asses out of that hell hole. Of course it wasn't a hell hole until we blew the place to smithereens, but that's another argument.