Posted on 06/09/2005 6:59:27 PM PDT by SmithL
Washington -- Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, narrowly lost an effort Wednesday to fend off a Republican bill to slash U.S. dues payments to the United Nations by 50 percent unless the world body completes a long list of reforms within two years.
During a three-hour debate at the House International Relations Committee, Lantos and his colleagues in the Democratic minority agreed with the Republican majority that the United Nations -- rocked most recently by the Iraq oil-for-food scandal and charges that peacekeepers in the Congo had raped young women -- needs major changes. But they said the world governing body in New York couldn't possibly meet the two-year deadline and warned that the cut in payments would be counterproductive to U.S. interests.
The Republican-backed bill mirrored the get-tough attitude toward the United Nations from the administration, exemplified by President Bush's pending nomination of outspoken U.N. critic John Bolton to serve as U.S. ambassador there. The fight was also the latest in a series of congressional debates going back two decades about how the United States should try to force reforms in the world body.
At Wednesday's committee meeting, Democrats offered an amendment that would give the secretary of state discretion in withholding a portion of the $460 million a year the United States pays toward the United Nations' $2.1 billion regular budget. Hundreds of millions of dollars more for peacekeeping, UNICEF, international tribunals or a host of other U.N. programs wouldn't be directly affected by the proposal.
Although the committee often operates with bipartisanship, the Lantos amendment was defeated 24-23, on a largely party line vote. Instead, the Republican-backed bill that would slash U.N. dues by 50 percent was approved
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Confirm Bolton AND cut funding.
Better yet, run the darned un out of the country and cut all ties to them with out one single farthing!
We owe them?
Has he hit any kids with his car lately?
A 50% reduction in dues is too little. A 100% reduction in dues is needed.
"Admiral Boorda committed Suicide when he was discovered"...maybe Tom Lantos could follow his idol's lead!
Lantos may be a tool but he does support Taiwan, so his foreign policy isn't completely bad.
He also is a strong supporter of Israel.
Even manure has uses! Get us out of the UN!
WHAT!
Who gave them this authority!
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
BTTT
I have it on good authority than Tom Lantos is a Vampire Moonbat..
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