Posted on 04/04/2003 12:40:25 AM PST by HAL9000
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The House of Representatives late Thursday passed a supplementary budget amendment excluding France, Germany, Russia and Syria from taking part in US-funded reconstruction bids in Iraq, because they opposed the US-led war in Iraq.Proposed by Minnesota congressman Mark Kennedy, a Republican unrelated to the famous Kennedy clan, and passed by show of hands, the measure would even bar access by the four countries to information on reconstruction bids in Iraq.
The Kennedy amendment stipulated "that none of the funds made available in the bill for reconstruction efforts in Iraq may be used to procure goods or services from any entity that includes information on a response to a Request for Proposal (RFP) that indicates that such entity is organized under the laws of France, Germany, the Russian Federation, or Syria."
A similar amendment from Washington state congressman George Nethercutt, also Republican, that included China, was voted down.
"This amendment sends a signal to our allies that we appreciate those who support us in our time of need and remember those that have sought to thwart coalition efforts to defeat Saddam Hussein's regime," Nethercutt said of his measure.
"The coalition of the unwilling should not participate in reconstruction with US tax dollars," he added.
The Kennedy amendmend was included in a supplemental budget amendment authorizing 77.9 billion dollars in funding to cover the costs of war in Iraq and the start of reconstruction in Iraq passed by the House by a 414-12 vote.
The Senate late Thursday also passed its own version of the supplemental budget amendment totaling 78.7 billion dollars.
The two versions will then have to be reconciled and approved again by each body before being sent to the White House to be signed by US President George W. Bush.
If the senate makes changes/marks it up, and approves the Bill, as amended....it then goes BACK to the House, for approval (or further mark up). If the House accepts the changes made by the Senate, then it goes to the President for signature.
However, if the House makes changes to the Senate version---that's the part I'm not positive about, but I think it needs to go back to the Senate, yet again for approval, before it can go on to the President for signature. (It's been years since I've taken political science, but I think this is the very general workings of a bill (begun in the House; if begun in the Senate, the workings are the same, it just starts with SB instead of HB, of course).
In this particular bill, I don't know the exact status.....I'm sure another FReeper is more up to date on this.
Geez --- can I finally be proud of my state ??? Loved the note that Rep Kennedy was not one of THOSE Kennedys !!!
Seriously, Mark Kennedy is a good guy, in the last election, he weathered a bitter, vile, hateful & lie-ridden campaign against him.
--- NAYS 12 --- Blumenauer Grijalva Paul DeFazio Kucinich Sanders Farr Lee Watson Flake Lewis (GA) Woolsey
Funny, though, how it's usually the same names that keep popping up on anything anti-American, pro-Castro, pro-Chavez....they are nothing but a "cluster bomb" themselves.
Uh, shouldnt the decisions as to who rebuilds Iraq be made by the democratically elected government of a free and united Iraq and not the US Congress?If you and I go into Best Buy and I offer to buy you a computer, but am only willing to buy you a Dell, you do not have the right to force me to buy you a Sony. If the Iraqis want the French to rebuild them, they can pay for it themselves. No reason the American taxpayers should be forced to do so.
We already paid for the exorcism.
patent +AMDG
"No soup for you!!!"
I have no problem with that. My point is that the Iraqis should have final say as to what happens in their country. That is one of the objectives of the war, isnt it?
I take a dim view of legislation that treats Iraq as a province to be ruled from Washington.
I take a dim view of legislation that treats Iraq as a province to be ruled from Washington.This legislation doesnt do that, it only states that none of the funds made available in the bill can be spent on French stuff. Its a simple statement, it we are writing the check, this is whom the check will be made out to.
patent +AMDG
Yes, I've been learning just how much of a commie she is; and what is her maiden name?
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