Posted on 05/21/2007 1:14:27 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - In grudging concessions to President Bush, Democrats intend to draft an Iraq war-funding bill without a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and shorn of billions of dollars in spending on domestic programs, officials said Monday.
The legislation would include the first federal minimum wage increase in more than a decade, a top priority for the Democrats who took control of Congress in January, the officials added.
While details remain subject to change, the measure is designed to close the books by Friday on a bruising veto fight between Bush and the Democratic-controlled Congress over the war. It would provide funds for military operations in Iraq through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.
Democrats in both houses are expected to seek other opportunities to challenge Bush's handling of the unpopular conflict later this year.
Democratic officials stressed the legislation was subject to change. They spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss provisions before a planned presentation to members of the party's rank and file later in the day.
Democrats in Congress have insisted for months they would not give Bush a blank check for his war policies, and officials said the legislation is expected to include political and military goals for the Iraqi government to meet toward establishment of a more democratic society.
Failure to make progress toward the goals could cost the Iraqis some of the reconstruction aid the United States has promised, although it was not clear whether Democrats intended to give Bush power to order the aid to be spent regardless of progress.
Several officials said it was possible that Democrats would attempt to draft a second bill, to include much of the domestic spending that Bush and congressional Republicans have said they oppose.
Either way, Democratic leaders have said they hope to clear a war spending bill through both houses of Congress and send it to Bush's desk by week's end. They added the intention was to avoid a veto.
Bush vetoed one bill this spring after Democrats included a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq, and Republicans in the House upheld his rejection of the measure.
The House then passed legislation to provide war funds in two 60-day installments. Bush threatened a veto, and the measure was sidetracked in the Senate in favor of a non-controversial bill that merely pledged to give the troops the resources they need.
That set the stage for the current House-Senate negotiations on a measure to send to Bush.
‘bout time
Woo HOO
I just heard the dems are trying to attach a minimum wage increase to this... what the...
The minimum wage bill cleared Congress with bi-partisan support (including more than a few gutless Republicans).
Including the minimum wage rider in an otherwise clean war funding bill is a legitimate exercise in political bi-partisanship.
It's not something I favor, of course, but it is an appropriate recognition that the Democrats do, indeed, own Congress -- because they won the '06 election.
If we had wanted to stymie a minimum wage bill, we should've turned out and re-elected a GOP congress.
I so enjoy reading them when they take things as well as they did this. ROFL
They are hoping for failure. The problem is that an obvious failure, such as open intervention by the Iranians, one that endannegred American troops, might cause a reaction.
Right expect some trickery...it’s been too easy....
Oh....now that is suspicious....
hmmmm - Amnesty bill for a war budget bill? Hmmmm
ditto ;)
No, Bush was always right on the funding and the Rats were in a no win spot, the country wouldn`t stand for cutting off our boys.
Ah, but amnesty, that sounds like fun.
I’m thinking they got so used to saying “We Lost” and “We Surrender”, that they couldn’t take it a minute longer and looked for the 1st guy who’d take them up on it, and President Bush just happened to be the only one answering phone calls in the White House that early in the morning.
;~)
Oh geez, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more hysterical display - thanks for the humor call!
NY Times Headline you won’t see: “BUSH WINS, DEMS LOSE IN IRAQ SHOWDOWN”
Have we seen any confirmation of this story?
The media blackout is like a huge black hole if this story is confirmed.
Too late for that. The DUmmies over at DU are all up-in-arms over this. It's a Freudenschade moment for sure: DUmmie Funnies.
This is the first positive post about Bush in days.
Amen. Our side must learn that they have no one better than President Bush on the national scene. God bless President Bush.
You are right!
This is just one small win for Bush, while the rest of us lose every day with him in office.
“hmmmm - Amnesty bill for a war budget bill? Hmmmm”
Sell out our nation to help another?
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