Posted on 05/10/2008 12:09:30 AM PDT by Dawnsblood
Yet top House Republicans say they are willing to stand against Democratic initiatives they see as flawed, even though they might have some natural election-year appeal.
“There really are things we disagree with, and we are going to work to stop,” said Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, who makes no apologies for joining with Mr. Bush. “We have worked very closely together — the White House, House Republicans, Senate Republicans — to stop bad things from happening and trying to move our own agenda. We have had a very close partnership.”
Democrats have learned a few things over the past 16 months after coming out on the losing end of veto fights over Iraq war money and children’s health insurance, to name two. The House Democratic leadership set out to construct its version of the war bill to give it some chance of success and to make sure Republicans paid for any opposition or failure to override a veto.
Under the House bill that could be up for a vote in the next week, Democrats tried to stay in the ballpark of Mr. Bush’s $178 billion request for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and international food aid, with their alternative coming closer to $195 billion.
The Democrats’ extras include an expansive college benefit for veterans, a provision they view as almost untouchable, as well as extra unemployment pay that they say the sour economy justifies.
And requirements for a troop withdrawal needed to push the bill through the House are expected to disappear in the Senate. The thinking was that Mr. Bush and Congressional Republicans would have a tough time explaining a rejection of the measure over unemployment assistance and help for veterans.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
This isn’t exactly a new Contract With America, but I’ll take it for now. I think the Dems have totally misjudged the mood of the country on housing relief. I pay my mortgage. I don’t want to pay someone else’s. Now if only the Reps would actually introduce some initiatives we could get behind, like domestic drilling, backing off the ethanol debacle or English only. BTW, I’m convinced McCain will give Stretch Pelosi everything she asks for because he agrees with her.
How about starting with blowing out the ethanol subsides???
How ‘bout drilling for oil?
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