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.
Did they blink? Or am I missing something?
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.
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Mum’s the word, OK? anonymous sources and all. ;-)
Blinked for now, and start the fight all over again in Sept.
Dems are severely overplaying their hand.
They didn’t blink. They’ll attack from a different direction Did you notice the war funding bill will include a minimum wage increase. Two different subjects, even though not ‘PORK’. The wart funding bill should be clan without and other issues. But no it will not be.
Bush has already signed on to Amnesty, No Child Left Behind, Free Prescription Drugs, Campaign Finance Reform, the Law of the Sea and he will soon agree to Benchmarks for iraq.
Bush is blinking so fast, he appears to be asleep.
Bump to that..it was the first thing I thought of when I read the title of the thread.
Well, at least there is no pork in it. < /sarcasm >
Union contracts are tied to minimum wage and that is what that is all about.
They blinked. This Iraq fight has been dragging the Dems down in the polls, along with Bush. They want to move on to their domestic pet causes.
BWAHHHHH hahahaha!
Where’s the trick? RATS don’t send a treat without a trick being under the table.
Bush supports amnesty and the Dems support a no time line bill.....
Yep! We're not authorized to say anything but here's the scoop. We're going to send President Bush the spending bill he originally wanted but we showed the leftie wacko's we fought him.
Ha....maybe he got close and uptight with Poloski that he caught that eye blinking thingy she does.
Watch out if he ever catches head bobbing from Shrillary.
Yep! The Democrats no longer need the full blown moonbat vote in 2008, they'll have 12 million new Democratic voters this 2008 election.
Also, I have to think that a Gaza style retreat and then re-invasion in the middle of a Dem Presidential term is a senerio that they wouldn’t care for.
Yeah, the ‘germane’ness.
See mny post #16
I want to see the legislation
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